IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


n 

D 
D 

n 


D 


Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


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II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  ddtails 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographtque,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


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I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


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Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
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Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


I      I    Showthrough/ 


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Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matdriel  suppldmentaire 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


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Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


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26X 


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16X 


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24X 


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The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thBr>ks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
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sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditioni>  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  si^nt  film^s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  d^s  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  IQ  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film^s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagss  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

'l/^.. 


■"1 


MItHNlKtIi 


tliiiMDit-iitiiiiiltiDiini 


iiiiiiii'tiiiiiMitiriMitiiiK 


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It: 


11 


|:   Marcus  Whitman,  M,  D, 


I 

21 


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iiKiniriiiiiiMtKlli'iiiiinitdiiiiiitiiitiiiiit  iiiiiiiiilHl^i 
If -lit  null ni»imiin»niM""'*«'""""tniiii'ninmn»nn'"i"m "i iiinmii  ii'im »mi mimtinim'Hi'Uti  n-nmm nimiiniiiiiminn'immww»  s 


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Proofs  of  His  Work  in  Saying  Oregon  to 
THE  United  States,  and  in  Promot- 
ing THE  Immigration  of 
1843. 


---* 


i^ 


.A*ifc****»*i 


HIMES   THE   PRINTCII. 
-^*-*-^-*--*f-t    ^    ifc 


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IIIIIIMIlllltMl 


Milt tllilifini 


■  A   A    A   A,  *   I 


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MARCUS  WHITMAN,  M.  D. 


PROOFS  OF  HIS  WORK 


IN 


SAVING  OREGON 


I 


To  the  United  States, 


AND  IN 


J.  «.rf V*^ 


PROMOTING  THE   IMMIGRATION 


OF  1 843. 


'"'^■»'«wfe* 


. 


^.^I!«V^ 


By  rev.  M.  EELLS, 


'^a^-     if 


I'DUTLANO,  OllKCiON: 
C.Ko.  H.  lliMKs'  Hook  and  Job  Printing  Uolse. 

1M3. 


/  '■ . 


979'S 


^^m 


NOTE. 

If  any  one  can  give  additional  inforinaticn  ..n  (lie  suLjerts 
herein  mentioned,  the  writer  will  be  thankful  to  receive  it. 
Skokomish,  Mason  Co.,  Waah.  Terr^y. 


WM 


■■* 


Did  Dr.  M.  Whitman  Save  Oregon? 


subjects 

t. 


% 


«  this  subject  has  been  somewhat  widely  discussed,  and 
entirely  opposite  opinions  reached  by  different  individu" 
^  uals,  the  writer  has  gathere<l  all  the  evidence  in  regard  to 
the  subject  that  he  has  been  able  to  obtain,  and  herewith  gives 
It.  The  witnesses  are  eleven  in  number,  and  consist  mainly  of 
those  who  were  most  intimate  with  Dr.  Whitman.  Much  of  this 
evidence  is  dated  within  a  few  years,  because  the  writer  has  only 
become  thoroughly  interested  in  the  subject  since  1879. 

(I.)    WILLIAM  GEIGER,  JR.,  M.  D. 

The  writer  has  known  Dr.  Geiger  for  thirty-four  years.  About 
1880  he  learned  through  Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.  D.,  that  Dr. 
Geiger  knew  considerable  on  the  subject,  and  in  1881,  while  on  a 
visit  to  Forest  Grove,  he  had  a  conversation  with  Dr.  Geiger  and 
took  down  the  most  of  the  following  statement.  Thinking,  how- 
ever, that  it  would  be  best  to  have  the  doctor's  own  signature  to 
it,  in  1883  he  obtained  it  as  follows: 

R..V   M   I'..,..  I''oKR«'r  «RovE,  Oregon,  June  .5,  ISSi 

™mr/".hr'''*''"  !"  •?'"'  ""'""•'«'*  '^"o»t  !>'••  '^l-  Whitman  J  will  say  that  J 
hiflL?,  f  'Z'l':*'  '"  "*•■"' '"'''  '''''''  '-''  ^''-  Whitman's  request  in  charge  o 
hlH  station  in  l84L'-8,  while  he  ,vont  E.«.t,  and  remained  there  atler  his  return 

K    oi^'^'^'^fr''"''  ""'  ."any  conversations  with  him  on  the  objec    of 
his  going,  after  his  return.    I  was  there  again  in  im  and  1846 

a«  he  bellied  Th.'v'  '"""^  "'""^  T  '"  '"^^  ''''  """"^'-^  *«  ^^^'^  United  States, 
^n,d  t!  H  /n  t  '?'  ^'■'''*'  clanger  of  Us  falling  Into  the  hands  of  Eng^ 
and.    rnoldentally  he  Intended  to  obtain  more  missionary  help,  and  for  thfs 

S'     SK X  .V  Mr     "';^r  ^W  '"r'""'  *"  ''''■    ^'^^  '--'^nuionor 

..nVr  H  .      •     ,1"  ■^•     •  ^^"^■<*l°>''  '>'-""Kht  word  that  there  was  danger  that 

^^^  ^v„uld  obtain  Oregon,  hence  Dr.  Whltnmn  went  East.    When  hi 

rra,-hrd  Missouri  he  heard  that  the  danger  was  very  great  of  losing  th  s 

of  pants.    KUhor  himself  or  brother  had  been  a  classmate  of  the  secretary 
Of  war,  and  Dr.  Whitman  went  to  him  and  through  him  obtained  an  IntTi 


167703 


:!l 


4  nil)    DR.   M.    WHITMAN   SAVK    ORKUON? 

ductlnii  to  HecrcUiry  WebHter,  But  WobHftT  siild  that  II  was  ton  liilp,  Ihiil  lio 
hart  signed  the  piipers  and  (?lven  thoiu  to  the  prosldciu.  ilo  would  not  Intro- 
duce him  to  the  president.  Dr.  Whilinan  went  back  to  the  sprrolnry  of  war, 
and  through  him  obtained  nn  Introdurtlon  to  tlio  president,  wlio  licard  liis 
statements  of  the  value  of  Oregon,  and  the  possllilllty  of  tal<lng  an  emigra- 
tion there.  At  last  tile  president  promised  to  wait  Ix-lore  proceeding  furtlier 
In  the  business,  until  Dr.  Whitman  siiould  sec  whether  he  could  get  llie 
emigration  through."  "That  Is  ail  I  want,"  said  i>r.  Wiiitnum.  lie  Immedi- 
ately sent  back  word  to  Missouri  to  tiiosc  wiio  wlslicd  to  go,  and  iiad  it 
published  In  the  papers  and  in  »  pamphlet. 

He  then  went  to  Boston.  When  he  HrsI  met  .Mr.  tllll,  treasurer  of  the 
Board,  Mr.  HUl  received  him  (julte  roughly.  Mr.  Hill  said,  "What  are  you 
here  for— leaving  your  post?"  and  at  last  said,  in  not  a  very  pleasant  way, 
as  he  offered  him  some  money,  '  Oo  and  get  some  decent  clothes."  T>r. 
Whitman  turned  on  his  heel  and  left.  Tiie  next  day  Mr.  Hill  was  more  cor- 
dial. If  Dr.  Whitman  told  me  this  once,  he  told  it  tome  perhaps  twenty 
times.  He  told  It  to  me  first  on  Ills  return  at  .Mr.  Spauldlng's  station,  as  I 
was  there  temporarily  on  account  of  siekness  In  Mr.  Spauldlng's  family. 
About  the  same  time  he  told  Mr.  Spaulding  the  same.  He  afterwards  told  it 
to  us  both,  and  In  riding  together  afterwards  on  the  road  he  said  the  same, 
and  these  repeated  statements,  which  were  always  precisely  alike,  impressed 
It  on  my  mind,  or  I  might  perhaps  have  for^oUen  them.  .\s  far  as  I  know, 
he  told  this  only  to  Mr.  Hpauldlng  and  myself,  and  said  he  had  his  rea^ions 
for  not  telling  everybody. 

After  the  Immigration  arrived  In  1842,  and  he  had  learned  what  1  have  pre- 
viously stated  fl-om  them  about  the  danger  of  losing  (»rcgon,  he  went  to  Fori 
Walla  Walla  (now  Wallula)  to  learn  if  it  was  true,  as  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany's annual  brigade  or  e.xpress  hart  Just  arrived  from  .Montreal.  I)r.  Whit- 
man there  learned  that  the  treaty  had  not  been  signed  l>y  which  Knglnnd 
was  to  obtain  Oregon,  but  they  said  that  they  expected  to  get  It.  Or.  Whit- 
man, however,  knew  that  If  he  should  let  it  be  known  Unit  he  went  on  this 
business  alone,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  would  never  allow  him  to  go 
through,  hence  he  called  the  mission  together,  and  there  was  consldenit)le 
Bald  about  missionary  business  and  more  laborers,  so  that  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  would  not  Interfere  with  him. 

(Signed)  WILLIAM  OKIOKU,  ,1B.,  .M.  n. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  mo  this  5th  daj  of  ,lune,  A.  D.  iss:<. 

(.Signed)  .s.  lUKJHKN, 

Xotar!/ Piihlie /or  Oregon. 

(2.)    REV.  H.  H.   SPAULDING. 


h  > 


Mr.  Spaulding  came  to  the  country  in  1836,  in  company  witii 
Dr.  Whitman,  and  was  in  the  mission  of  the  A.  H.  ('.  F.  M.  till 
after  Dr.  Whitman's  death.  His  station  wa.**  at  Laiiwiii,  now  In 
Idaho.  He  died  in  1874,  but  has  left  this  statement  in  K.vccutivc 
Document  No,  37,  4l8t  Congress,  3d  Session,  .Senate,  1871,  pp 
20-22 : 


'*J^ 


The  peculiar  event  that  aroused  i»r.  Whit  man,  and  sent  him  llirough  the 
mountains  of  New  Mexico  during  tliat  terrible  winter  of  ISi:!  to  Washington, 
Justin  time  to  save  this  now  so  valualiie  country  from  being  traded  oil'  Ijy 
Webster  to  the  shrewd  Englishman  for  a  "cod  fishery"  ilown  Kii.st,  was  as 
follows:  In  October,  1W2,  our  mission  was  called  together  on  business  at 
Walllatpu,  Dr.  Whitman's  station,  and  while  In  session  Dr.  W.  was  called  to 


I)ri)    1»R.    M.   WHITMAN'  SAVK   OREGON? 


I>. 


tive 

pp. 


til*' 

ton, 
I'  l),v 
IS  as 

S  Ht 

d  to 


Kort  Wulla  Walla  to  visit  a  sick  iimii.  WlilUs  tluTc  the  lirlxudc  fi)r  Now  C'al- 
ctloiilu,  flftccii  iMitt-aux,  arrlvt'd  at  tlial  point  on  tlioir  way  up  tlio  Coluiiibla, 
with  Indian  (ioods  l"or  the  New  Caledonia  or  Kni/.or  river  country.  They 
were  aeeonipanled  liy  some  twenty  chlel  factors,  traders  and  <'lcrks  of  tho 
Mudson's  Hay  Company,  and  Itlshop  Deniols  [heincrsj,  who  had  crossed  the 
mountains  from  Canada  In  ls.'t!i  |Ih:M{,  tho  tlrHt  Catholic  priest  on  thU  coant. 
KIshop  niHiichett  came  at  the  same  time. 

While  this  (jreat  (Company  were  at  dinner  an  express  arrived  from  Kort 
Colvllle  announehiK  the  (to  them)  t;lad  news  that  the  (Colony  from  Ked  rlvor 
had  passed  the  Uocky  mountains,  and  were  near  Fort  Colvllle.  An  excla- 
mation of  Joy  hurst  from  the  whole  table  at  first  unaccountable  to  Dr.  Whit- 
man, till  a  youuK  priest,  perhaps  noi  so  discreet  as  the  older,  and  not 
thlnkluK  there  was  an  American  at  tho  ti  bio,  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  swing- 
ing his  hand,  exclahned,  "Hurrah  for  Columbia  (Oregon)!  America  Is  too 
Ittte  ;  we  have  got  tho  country."  In  an  Instant,  as  If  by  Instinct,  IJr.  Whit- 
man saw  through  tho  whole  plan,  cloa:  to  Washington,  Fort  Hall  and  all 
[i.  c.  the  stopping  of  all  Innnlgranl  and  American  wagons  at  Fort  Hall  by  the 
Hudson's  May  Company  every  year  to  that  tlmt!|.  He  ltnmodlatol.y  rose  from 
the  table,  and  asked  tt)  bo  excused,  s))rangupon  his  horse,  and  In  a  vor.v  short 
time  stood  with  his  noble  "eayus('"  white  with  ioani  before  hl^  door,  and 
■w  Ithout  stopping  to  dismount,  ho  replied  to  our  anxious  hKjuirlos  with  great 
decision  and  earnestness,  "I  am  going  to  cross  the  Hoeky  mountains  and 
reach  Washington  this  winter,  (iod  carrying  m*.  'hrough,  and  bring  out  an 
Immigration  over  the  mountains,  or  the  country  Is  lost."  The  events  soon 
developed  that  If  that  whole-souled  .Vmerlcan  missionary  was  not  the  "son 
of  a  i)rophot,"  ho  guessed  right  when  he  said,  "  a  deep-laid  scheme  was  about 
culminating,  which  would  deprive  tho  United  States  of  this  Oregon,  and  it 
must  be  broken  at  once  or  this  country  Is  lost." 

We  united  our  remonstrances  with  those  of  Sister  Whitman,  who  was  In 
deep  agony  ut  the  Idea  of  her  husband  perishing  In  the  snows  of  the  Rocky 
mountains.  We  told  him  It  would  be  a  miracle  If  he  escaped  death,  either 
from  starving,  or  freozing,  or  the  savages,  or  the  perishing  of  his  horses, 
during  the  tlvo  months  that  would  be  required  to  make  tho  only  possible 
circuitous  route,  via  Fort  Hall,  Taos,  Santa  Fe,  and  Bent's  Fort.  His  reply 
was  that  of  m.v  angel  wife  six  years  before:  "  I  am  ready,  not  to  be  bound 
only,  but  to  die  at  .Jerusalem  or  In  the  snows  of  the  Uocky  mountains  for  the 
name  of  the  Lord  ,Iesus  or  my  country."  And  taking  leave  of  Ills  mission- 
ary associates,  his  comfortable  home  and  his  weeping  companion,  with  but 
little  hope  of  seeing  them  again  In  this  world,  he  ento;red  upon  his  fearful 
Journey  the  M  (3d)  of  Octol)er,  1S42,  and  reached  the  City  of  Washington  the 
2d  of  March,  1843,  with  his  face,  nose,  ears,  hands,  feet  and  legs  badly 
frozen. 

On  reaching  the  settlements,  Dr.  Whitman  found  that  many  of  the  now 
old  Oregonians,  Waldo,  Applogate,  Hanitree,  Keyser  and  others,  who  had 
once  made  calculations  to  come  to  Oregon,  liad  abandoned  the  idea,  because 
of  the  representations  irom  Washington  that  every  attempt  to  take  wagons 
and  ox  teams  through  the  Kocky  nnd  lllue  mountains  to  the  Columbia  had 
failed.  Dr.  Whitman  saw  at  once  what  the  stopping  of  wagons  <<t  Fort  Hall 
every  year  meant.  The  representations  purported  to  come  from  Secretary 
Webster,  but  really  from  Governor  Simpson,  who,  magnifyiiig  the  state- 
ments of  his  chief  trader.  Grant,  at  Fort  Hall,  declared  the  Americans  must 
be  going  nnid  from  their  repeated  fruitless  attempts  to  take  wagons  and 
teams  through  tho  Impassable  regions  of  the  Columbia,  and  that  the  women 
and  children  of  those  wild  fanatics  had  been  saved  from  a  terrible  death  only 
by  the  repeated  and  philanthropic  labors  of  Mr.  Grant  at  Fort  Hall,  in  fur- 
nishing them  with  horses.  The  doctor  told  these  men  as  he  met  them  that 
his  only  object  In  crossing  the  mountains  in  the  dead  of  winter,  at  the  risk 


6  DID    DK.    M.    WHITMAN  HAVK  ()KK(K)N? 

or  hiR  life,  throuKli  untold  Nufl'erliiKN,  wuh  to  tuku  back  iin  AnierlcHii  Imuil- 
Ki'tiMon  that  Huiiinior  tliroiiKlv  the  inounlnliiN  to  tliu  ('oluiiililu  with  tlioir 
wiiKOiiH  niHl  tcuiiiH.  Tho  routi'  whn  pructlciible.  Wo  liiul  tiiki-ii  our  outtle 
und  our  i'uinlUdH  through  Huven  yoiirN  hct'ort'.  Thoy  had  luithlnx  to  Tear,  but 
to  bo  nmdy  ou  hlH  return.  The  stoppluK  of  wngoiiM  at  Fort  Hall  waH  a  Hud- 
son'H  Kay  Company  Hchenie  to  prevent  the  Hettllng  ul'the  eonntry  by  Anierl- 
eauN,  till  thoy  eould  Mettle  It  witli  their  own  sul>JectH  from  the  Selkirk 
Hettlemont.  Thin  news  spread  like  wlld-tlre  through  M1mhou-1,  aH  will  be  neen 
rroni  /achary'N  Htateinent.  frhe  doetor  puNhod  on  to  WaNhlngton,  and  Im- 
mediately Hought  an  Interview  with  Hef-rotary  WebHter— both  being  IVom  the 
same  Htat«— and  ntnted  to  him  the  object  of  IiIh  croaHlug  the  mountalniL  and 
laid  before  him  the  great  Importance  ol' Oregon  to  the  United  HtateN.J  Ihit 
Mr.  Webster  lay  too  near  Cape  Cod  to  nop  things  In  the  sameMlght  with  his 
follow  statesman,  who  had  transferred  hi  i  worldly  Interests  to  the  Paolfle 
coast.  He  awarded  sincerity  to  tho  inlsshniary,  but  could  not  admit  for  a 
moment  that  the  short  residence  of  six  years  could  give  tho  doctor  the 
knowledgeof  the  country  posscxspd  by  (Governor  Simpson,  who  had  almost 
grown  up  In  the  country,  and  had  traveled  every  part  of  It,  and  represents 
It  as  one  unbroken  waste  of  sand  deserts  and  Impassable  mountains,  tit  onl.v 
for  tho  beaver,  tlie  gray  hour  and  tho  savage.  Hesldos  he  had  about  traded  It 
otr  with  (Jovornor  Simpson  to  go  Into  the  Ashburlon  treaty  (!)  for  a  cod 
fishery  In  Newfound';-.:-.!'. 

The  doctor  next  sought  through  .Senator  I. Inn  an  interview  with  President 
Tyler,  who  a^  oiice  appreciated  .'lis  solicitude,  and  his  timely  representations 
of  Oregon,  and  especially  his  disinterested  though  hu/ardous  undertaking 
to  cross  tho  Uocky  mountains  \i\  winter  to  take  back  a  caravan  of  wagons. 
He  said  that  although  tho  doctor's  representations  of  the  character  of  the 
country,  and  the  possibility  of  r-achlng  It  by  wiigon  route,  were  In  direct 
contradiction  to  those  of  CJovorn(<r  Simpson,  his  I'ro/.en  lii>il)s  wereasufflclent 
proof  of  his  sincerity,  and  l-.is  missionary  character  were  a  snlHclent  guar- 
anty for  his  honesty,  and  ho  would  thertfort!  as  president  rest  upon  these 
and  act  accordingly ;  would  detail  Fremont  with  u  military  force  to  escort 
the  doctor's  caravan  through  the  mountains ;  and  no  more  action  should  be 
had  toward  trading  otl' Oregon  till  he  could  hear  the  resnlts  of  the  expedition. 
If  the  doctor  could  establish  a  wagon  route  through  the  mountains  to  the 
Columbia  river,  pronounced  impassable  by  Oovernor  Simpson  and  Ashbur- 
ton,  he  would  use  his  Inrtuonce  to  hold  on  to  Oregon.  The  great  desire  of  the 
doctor's  American  soul.  Christian  withal,  that  Is,  the  pledge  of  the  president 
that  the  swapping  of  Oregon  with  Kngland  for  a  cod  tisher.v  should  stop  for 
the  present,  was  attained,  although  at  the  risk  of  life,  and  through  great  suf- 
ferings, and  unsolicited  and  without  the  promise  or  expectation  of  a  dollar's 
reward  from  any  source.  And  now.  (Jod  giving  him  life  and  strength,  he 
would  do  the  rest,  that  Is,  connect  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers  with  a 
wagon  track  so  deep  and  plain  that  neither  national  envy  nor  sectional 
fanaticism  would  ever  blot  It  out.  And  when  the  1th  of  September,  1843,  saw 
the  rear  [van]  of  the  doctor's  caravan  of  nearly  two  hundred  wagons,  with 
which  he  started  fron>  Missouri  the  lost  of  April,  emerge  from  tho  western 
shades  of  tho  Blue  mountains,  the  greatest  work  was  finished  ever  accom- 
plished by  <me  man  for  the  coast.  And  through  that  great  emigration,  dur- 
ing the  whole  summer,  the  do<'tor  was  evorywhoro  present,  an  angel  of 
mercy,  ministering  to  the  sick,  helping  the  weary,  onconriiglng  the  waver- 
ing, cheering  the  mothers,  mending  wagons,  sotting  broken  bones,  hunt^ 
Ing  stray  oxen,  climbing  precipices,  now  in  tho  rear,  now  at  the  center,  now 
at  the  front ;  in  the  rivers  looking  out  fords  through  the  quicksands,  In  the 
deserts  looking  out  water,  In  the  dark  mountains  looking  out  passes;  at 
noontide  or  midnight,  as  though  those  thousands  were  his  own  children,  and 
those  wagons  and  those  flocks  were  his  own  property.    Although  he  asked 


DID    D».    M.   WHITMAN   HAVK  OKKCION? 


"■Iciiii  linuil- 
n  With  tholr 
n  our  c-uttlo 
<  t((  /cur,  1,111 
wiiN  a  If  iK|. 
■y  l>y  Amerl- 
t'H'  .Selkirk 
will  boMoort 
'">.  and  Ini- 
"Kfroiu  the 
intalniL  muj 
■<«iiteN.J  n,„ 
•'t  With   IiIn 
the  Pacific 
idmlt  for  a 
t>i)ctor  the 
i'ttd  alinoHt 
repreHents 
n«i  fit  only 
•t  traded  It 
I  '■'"■  a  cod 

I'reHldont 
<P»tHtion.s 
dortaklinf 
'f  watforiN. 
tor  of  the 

'»  direct 
Hiifflclent 
ent  guar- 
pon  these 

to  cNcort 
should  be 
PedltJon, 
>N  to  the 

Ashbur- 
Ireofthe 
•resident 

stop  for 
reat  suf- 

dollar's 
n«th,  he 

with  a 
actional 
S*{,  Haw 
»s,  with 
western 
accom- 
I",  dur- 
i(?el  of 
waver- 

hunt- 
f,  now 
In  the 
les;  at 
n,  and 
asked 


not  uimI  e.xpcctcil  lint  u  ilollur  as  ii  reward  fntin  any  Hoiircc,  lie  Celt  hliiiMuU' 
uliuiidalitly  rewarded  when  he  saw  the  denlrc  ii)'  IiIm  heart  accoiiipllHhed,  the 
Kreal  waxoli  ritute  over  the  iiKiuntaiiiN  cHliihliNhed,  and  ure|{i(n  In  a  fair  way 
to  he  (leeiipliMl  with  Aiiierleaii  Hctl leiiieiilH  and  Aiiierlcaii  coiiinierei\  And 
cNpeelally  he  I'elt  hliiiNelt  doiilily  paid,  wlieii  at  the  end  of  IiIh  hucccmhIuI  ex- 
pedition, and  Mlandiiiii;  alive  at  liiN  iiiinie  iiKaiii  on  tlie  i>ankM  of  the  Walla 
Walla,  thcNe  thoUNaiidH  iii°  liis  I'ellow  Kiitniiier  piiKriniM,  wayworn  and  Hun- 
browned,  took  iilni  liy  lite  hand  and  thanked  him  with  teui'M  lor  what  he 
had  don**. 

The  followiitK  testimony,  coining  from  Mr.  Moorert,  of  Marion 
county,  (Jrcf^on,  Hpt'ukei'  of  thci  House  of  lli'iirt'.sjsntatlves  for 
Oregon,  who  rt'cciviMl  It  from  Mr.  Simuldlu,",  "'ves  more  of  the 
iletailH  of  the  inti-rview  botwoen  Dr.  Whitman  .iii>l  Mr.  Webster. 
Tile  occaHioii  of  Mr.  Mooi'e's  remarkH  was  the  pn  nentation  of  tlie 
tomaliawic  witli  wliieii  Dr.  Whitman  wai^  'lilied,  to  tlie  areiiives 
of  tiie  state.  Tliey  are  talieu  fi-om  tlio  iiville  (N.  \.)  Advcr- 
ffrv  of  May  4,  iH(ir),  whirli  coiiieti  tliem  from  ilii  Sacramento 
/)aif,i/  Ihilletin  : 

Dr.  Whitnian's  i-eiiionHtranoes  wen^  met  liy  V.r  Wnl).!er  with  a  Hrnlle,  who 
said:  "  Wliy,  doctor,  yon  liavu  eoine  too  late,  we  liavi  al.uiit  traded  oH'  the 
northwest  coast  I'or  a  codlisiiery," 

'■  Hut,  sir,  you  do  not  know  wliat  you  are  doiiiL;.  Vou  do  not  realize  lliat 
tlie  territory  you  mention  witli  a  smile— almost,  a  Hiiecr— could  make  a  home 
I'or  millions,  that  It  has  It  road  iiaviuable  rivers,  leading  to  an  ocean  whose 
commerce  Includes  the  Indies  and  tlie  (irieiit,  and  that  we  have  fine  harborH 
and  broad  hays  to  invite  that  <'ommerec  thither,  and  oiler  an  anchorage  to 
the  navies  of  the  world.  Then  there  are  t)eautiful  and  lertlic  vulie.vs  whose 
harvests  will  yield  eventual  increase  to  our  nation's  wealth." 

"  Yon  arc  enthusiastic,  doi'tor,"  answered  the  secretary  with  an  eas.v  Hniile, 
"  You  cerfainl.v  are  an  entluisiust.  The  reports  that  <'ome  to  us  from  Oregon 
differ  materially  from  yours.  The  central  portions  of  the  <!ontlnent  are  a 
barren  waste,  and  the  waters  of  the  western  slope  course  through  a  moun- 
tain wilderness  or  else  a  desert  shore.  The  mountaineer  can  hunt  and  trap 
there.  The  tourist  may  sketch  its  snow-cai)ped  ridges,  and  describe  the 
Indian  In  his  native  haunts.  Tlie  trapper  finds  a  home  there,  but  who 
besides?" 

"Hir,  you  have  no  idea  of  the  land  you  sneer  at.  Oregon  has  all  the  virtues 
that  we  claim  for  it.  .\  few  .\mcrlcans  liavc  gone  tiilther  to  develop  our 
nation's  wealth.  We  are  far  oil',  but  our  hearts  are  with  the  nation  of 
our  birth.  We  are  pioni'crs,  and  <uin  it  be  i)ossible  that  our  claims  will  be 
ignored,  that  our  country  can  consent  to  trade  off  the  terrltor.v  and  our 
allegiance  to  u  foreign  power?" 

(3.)    HON.  WILLIAM  H.  ORAY. 

Mr.  Gray  first  came  to  tlie  t.untry  as  an  asHociate  missionary 
of  the  A.  K.  V.  V.  M.  in  1H8(),  in  compuny  witli  Dr.  Whitman. 
He  returned  for  more  missionaries  in  18;}",  and  came  back  again 
with  his  wife  and  otliers  in  1838.  From  that  time  until  1842  he 
was  stationed  a  part  of  the  time  with  Mr.  Spaulding,  and  a  part 


^^'ith  D      W    .  '''^^*'  OREGOX? 

^iiitman  went  Fw  ^^  '^^*  ^^^^  "iission  in  1^0 

the  author  of  r        ,  ' ''"''  ^«"t  *<>  the  Wil  !      .    '  '''''"  '^^t^''  ^^i"- 

-•■~,,«.,c-;,"5i':;"~..-.,..™. 


DID    DR.   M.   WHITMAN  SAVE  OKEOON  ? 


9 


(Dr.  Whitman's)  reasons  against  such  a  change.  Hut  the  president  listened 
more  favorably,  and  said  no  such  change  or  giving  up  of  Oregon  should  be 
made,  If  he  could  get  wagons  and  an  emigration  into  Oregon.  *  *  *  Mr.  Web- 
ster was  strongly  In  favor  of  the  Xewloundlfind  codflshery.  He  was  held  in 
check  by  Kenton,  Adams  and  otliers.  Benton  had  a  licttcr  knowledge  ol' 
Oregon  than  Webster,  who  had  been  or  become  unpopular  Cor  his  yielding 
on  the  Eastern  or  Maine  question  with  Ashburton.  The  petition  that  had 
been  sent  by  the  missionaries,  and  tlie  statements  made  by  dilferent  parties, 
added  to  tiie  personal  representations  made  by  Dr.  Whitman,  as  to  the  prac- 
ticability of  a  vvagon  route,  and  the  fact  that  tlie  doctor's  mission  in  l»:V> 
had  taken  cows  and  wagons  to  Fort  Hoise,  and  that  they  could  be  taken  to 
the  Columbia  river,— that  fact,  as  affirmed  by  Dr.  Whitman,  stopped  all  spec- 
ulations about  giving  up  Oregon,  till  the  practical  road  question  was 
settled. 

On  March  9th,  1883,  the  writer  wrote  u  letter  to  Mr.  Gray, 
asking  how  miieh  of  liis  statements  in  his  liistory  in  regard  to 
Dr.  Whitman's  visit  East,  and  especially  in  Chapter  41st,  page 
315,  etc.,  were  received  directly  from  Dr.  Whitman,  and  how 
much  second-liand  from  others,  and  received  a  reply  under  date 
of  March  28,  1883,  from  wliich  the  following  extracts  are  made : 

I  have  Just  closed  the  reading  of  my  forty-first  chapter,  to  whicli  you  refer. 
The  facts  stated  are  literally  true,  as  coming  to  me  from  the  actors,  some  of 
them  penciled  in  my  note-book  as  a  listener,  and  also  a  review  of  testimony 
printed,  from  which  I  copied.  Dr.  Wliitman,  you  will  bear  in  mind,  was  ui// 
warmest  friend  and  confidant  In  all  tliat  pertained  to  the  mission  and  the 
policy  and  designs  of  the  Hudson's  liay  Company.  I  met  him  in  Oregon 
City  in  my  own  home,  after  his  return  from  Wasiiington.  Spent  an  after- 
noon and  evening  with  him,  and  learned  of  him  the  result  of  his  visit  to 
Washington,  and  the  treatment  he  received  from  Webster  and  from  the 
Prudential  Hoard  or  Committee  of  Missions.       Yours,  etc., 

(Signed)  W.  H.  OFAY. 


...     ^ 


(4.)    REV.  C.  EELLS. 

Mr.  Eells  came  to  the  country  in  1838,  as  a  missionary  of  tlie 
A.  B.  C'.  F.  M.,  and  continued  in  that  relation  until  after  the 
death  of  Dr.  Whitman  in  1847.  He  was  stationed  among  the 
Spokane  Indians  at  Tshimakain,  or  Walker's  Prairie,  in  Spokane 
county,  Washington  Territory. 

StatementH  made  hy  Rev,  C'ushing  Eelh,  relative  to  the  object  of 
Mtirovi*  Whifiiicm,  M.  />.,  in  mahiny  ati  overland joitrney  froDi 
the  Waiilatpn  mission  station  in  the  Walla  Walfa  valley  to 
the.  Atlantic  states  durinr/  the  aiifnnin  and  n'inter  of  1842  and 
1843: 

September,  1H12,  a  letter,  written  by  Dr.  Whitman,  addressed  to  Hev.  Messrs. 
K.  Walker  and  C.  Eells  at  Tshimakain,  reached  Us  destination  and  was 
received  by  the  persons  to  whom  it  was  written.  Hy  the  contents  of  said 
letter  a  meeting  of  the  Oregon  Mission  of  tlie  .Vmerican  Hoard  of  Commis- 


10 


HID    PR.    M.   WHITMAN  SAVE  OKEOON, 


sloners  for  Foreign  MIssIoiih  was  Invited  to  bo  lield  at  Walllatpu.  The  object 
of  said  meeting,  as  stat*d  In  tlie  letter  named,  was  to  approve  '>f  a  purpose 
formed  by  Dr.  Whitman,  that  he  go  Ktvst  on  behalf  of  Oregon  as  related  to 
the  United  States.  In  the  Judgment  of  Mr.  Walker  and  myself  that  objeet 
was  foreign  to  our  assigned  work.  With  troubled  thoughts  we  anticipated 
tlie  proposed  meeting.  On  the  following  day,  Wednesday,  we  started,  and 
on  Saturday,  p.  m.,  camped  on  the  Touchet,  at  tlie  ford  near  the  Mullnn 
bridge.  We  were  pleased  with  the  prospect  of  enjoying  a  jjerlod  of  rt'st,  re- 
flection and  prayer— needful  preparation  for  the  antagonism  of  opposing 
Ideas.  We  never  moved  cam;)  on  the  Lord's  day.  On  Monday,  a.  m.,  we 
arrived  at  Walllatpu,  and  met  tije  two  resident  families  of  Messrs.  Whitman 
and  Oray.  Rev.  H.  H.  Hpaulding  was  there.  All  the  male  members  of  the 
mission  were  thus  together.  In  the  discussion  the  opinion  ot  Mr.  Walker 
and  myself  remained  unchanged.  The  purpose  of  Dr.  Whitman  was  fixed. 
In  his  estimation  the  saving  of  Oregon  to  the  United  States  was  of  para- 
mount importance,  and  he  would  make  the  attempt  to  do  so,  even  If  lie  liad 
to  withdraw  from  the  mission  In  order  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  In  reply 
to  considerations  intended  to  liold  Dr.  Whitman  to  his  assigned  work,  he 
said:  "  1  am  not  expatriated  by  becoming  a  missionary."  The  Idea  of  his 
withdrawal  could  not  be  entertained,  therefore  to  retain  him  in  the  mission 
a  vote  to  approve  of  his  making  the  perilous  endeavor  prevailed.  He  liad  a 
cherished  object  for  the  accomplishment  of  which  he  desired  consultation 
with  Rev.  David  Greene,  secretary  of  correspondence  with  the  mission  at 
Boston,  Mass.,  but  I  have  no  recollection  that  It  was  named  In  the  meeting. 
A  part  of  two  days  was  spent  In  consultation.  Record  of  the  date  and  acts 
of  the  meeting  was  made.  The  book  containing  the  same  was  in  the  keep- 
ing of  the  Whitman  family.  .Vt  tlic  time  of  tlielr  massacre,  Nov.  at,  1847,  it 
disappeared. 

The  fifth  day  of  October,  following,  was  designated  as  the  day  on  which 
Dr.  W^hltman  would  expect  to  start  from  Walllatpu.  Accordingly,  letters,  of 
which  be  was  to  be  the  bearer,  were  required  to  be  furnished  him  at  his 
station  In  accordance  tlierewlth.  Mr.  Walker  and  myself  returned  to 
Tshimakaln,  prepared  letters  and  forwarded  them  seasonably  to  Walllatpu. 
By  the  return  of  the  courier  information  was  received  that  Dr.  Whitman 
started  on  the  M  of  October.  It  is  possible  that  transplrings  at  old  Port 
Walla  Walla  liastened  his  departure  two  days. 

Soon  after  Ills  return  to  this  coast.  Dr.  Whitman  said  to  me  be  wished  lie 
could  return  East  immediately,  as  he  believed  he  could  accomplish  more 
than  he  had  done,  as  I  understood  him  to  mean,  to  save  this  country  to  the 
United  .States.  I  asked  him  wh.v  he  could  not  go.  He  said,  "I  can  not  go 
without  seeing  Mrs.  Whitman."    She  was  then  In  the  Willamette  valley. 

I  solemnly  aftlrin  that  the  foregoing  statements  are  true  and  correct,  ac- 
cording to  tlie  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief.    So  lielp  me  God. 

(Signed)  ("USHING  EKLL.S. 


8worn  and  subscribed  to  before  me  this  '23d  day  of  August,  188;i. 

(Signed/  I,.  K.  KEIil.OGO, 

Notary  Public,  Spokane  county,  WuHhiimton  Territory. 


>1 


object 
('iirposo 
lated  i(> 

Ol»J«<;t 

klpated 
fed,  and 
Mullnii 

f'<'Ht,  re- 

ipOHlllg 

M.,  we 
tiitiniiu 
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alker 
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llio  had 
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of  his 
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3  had  a 
Itatlon 
slon  at 
eetlng. 
id  acts 
c  keep- 
IW,  It 


DID    DK.    M.  WHITMAN  SAVE  ORECION^ 


(S.)      MRS.   MARY   R.   WALKER. 


U 


Rev.  Elkanah  Walker,  with  his  wile,  {'anio  to  the  countiy  in 
1838  as  a  inissionary  of  the  A.  B.  ('.  F.  M.,  and  was  at  Tshiinakaln 
with  Rev.  ('.  Eells  until  1«48.  He  (\\M  in  1877.  In  18«2  the 
writer,  while  on  a  visit  to  Forest  Grove,  Oregon,  the  residence  of 
his  wife,  obtained  from  Mi's.  Walker  the  following  facts,  which, 
on  a  subse<iuent  visit,  she  put  in  writing,  as  follows : 

KoREHT  Gkove,  Oregon,  June  7,  IHA't. 
Hev.  M.  Keli.s  : 

ftir—ln  answer  to  your  inquiries  about  Dr.  Whitman,  I  wlil  say  tliat  lie 
M'ent  East  li>  1842,mialnly  to  save  the  country  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
England,  as  he  believed  there  was  great  danger  of  it.  He  hnd  written  Mr. 
Walker  several  times  before  about  It.  One  expression  I  well  remember  he 
wrote,  about  a.s  follows:  "This  country  will  soon  be  settled  by  the  whites. 
It  belongs  to  the  Americans.  It  is  a  great  and  rich  country.  What  a  country 
this  would  be  for  Yankees?    Why  not  tell  them  of  it." 

He  was  determined  to  go  Flast  on  this  business,  even  if  he  hud  to  leave  the 
mission  to  do  so. 

Much  was  said  al)out  that  time  about  the  Methodist  missionaries  com- 
ing here,  and  then  leaving  their  legitimate  missionary  calling  to  make 
money,  and  for  other  purposes,  and  some  disgrace  was  brought  on 
the  missionary  cause.  Mr.  Walker  and  associates  felt  that  Dr.  Whitman, 
In  leaving  missionary  work,  and  going  on  this  business,  was  likely  also  to 
bring  disgrace  on  the  cause,  and  were  so  afraid  of  it  lliat  for  a  long  time  the.v 
would  hardly  mention  that  object  of  Dr.  Whltnum's  journey  publicly.  I 
remember  plainly  that  Mr.  Walker  often  prayed  after  Dr.  Whitman  had 
gone,  that  If  It  was  right  for  him  to  go  on  this  business,  he  might  be  pre- 
served, but  If  not  his  way  might  be  hedged  up.  When  the  statements  (irst 
began  to  be  made  publicly  '  T  this  |)olttlcal  object  of  Dr.  Whitman's  Journey 
East,  we  were  then  afraid  that  disgrace  would  Ije  brouRlit  on  our  mission. 
(Signed)  M.VHV  U.  WAI.KEK. 


^t 


(6.)    HON.  A.  L.  LOVEJOV. 

Mr.  Lovejoy  came  to  the  country  in  1842,  and  gave  important 
Information  to  Dr.  Whitman  about  the  danger  of  the  United 
States  losing  the  country.  He  was  the  traveling  companion  of 
Dr.  Whitman's,  during  hit;  journey  Ea.st,  and  was  much  inter- 
ested on  the  subject.  Before  his  death  he  left  two  letters,  one  to 
Hon.  W.  H.  Gray  (see  Gray's  History,  p.  324),  and  the  other  to 
Rev.  G.  H.  Atkinson,  D.  D.  (see  fifth  annual  report  of  the  Pioneer 
and  Historical  Society  of  Oregon,  p.  13.)  In  these  he  gives  the 
l»est  and  almost  only  account  of  that  journey  which  has  been 
preserved,  and  the  two  account.-  agree  about  the  visit  to  Wash- 
ington.   The  following  is  from  the  letter  to  Dr.  Atkinson ; 

Here  we  parted  [at  Bent's  Fort].  The  doctor  proceeded  U)  Washington.  I 
remained  at  Bent's  Fort  until  spring,  and  Joined  the  doctor  the  following 


w 


12 


l)Il)   DH.    M.   WHITMAN  8AVK  ORK(}ON? 


July  neur  Fort  Laramie  on  his  way  to  Orogoii  In  conuiany  with  a  train  of 
tMiilgrants. 

He  often  expressed  himself  to  me  al>out  tlie  remainder  of  his  journey,  and 
the  manner  in  wlilcli  lie  was  received  at  Waslilnxton  and  Ity  tlie  Hoard  of 
Foreign  Missions  at  Hoston.  He  liad  several  interviews  with  President 
Tyler,  Hecretary  Webster,  and  a  good  many  members  of  (Congress,  C!ongres8 
being  In  session  at  that  time.  He  urged  the  immediate  termination  of  the 
treaty  with  Great  Britain  relative  to  this  country,  and  begged  tliem  to 
extend  tlie  laws  of  the  United  States  over  Oregon,  and  aslted  for  liberal  in- 
ducements to  emigrants  to  come  to  this  coast.  He  was  very  cordially  and 
kindly  received  by  the  president  and  members  of  Congress,  and  without 
doubt  the  doctor's  Interviews  resulted  greatly  to  the  bcneftt  of  Oregon  and 
to  tills  coast. 

(.^iji..ed)  A.  LAWREN(;K  LOVEJOY. 


;   I 


I    I 


The  Willamette  Farmer,  in  an  article  ((uoted  l)y  the  Seattle 
PoHt-IntelHgencer  oi  Nov.  17,  1H82,  says: 

Mrs.  Lovejoy  assures  us  that  he  [Mr.  Lovcjoy]  was  aware  of  Whitman's 
aims  and  motives;  knew  that  his  great  object  in  Ihejourney  was  to  save 
Oregon  from  Brltisli  rule,  and  gives  him  credit,  in  great  part,  for  accomplish- 
ing Ills  patriotic  intention. 

Mrs.  Lovejoy  came  in  184S. 


(7.)    MR.  PERRIN  B.  WHITMAN. 

Mr.  Wliitnian  is  a  nepliew  of  Dr.  M.  Wliitnian.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  184.'i,  with  liis  uncle,  and  rcniained  witli  his 
family  until  a  short  time  before  his  uncle's  death,  when  he  was 
sent  to  The  Dalles  to  assist  Mr.  A.  Hinman  at  that  station.  In  a 
letter  to  the  writer,  dated  February  10,  1882,  at  Lapwai  Indian 
Agency,  Idaho,  he  says : 

Rkv.  M.  Eells: 

My  Dear  Sir — I  came  across  to  Oregon  with  m.v  uncle,  Pr.  Marcus  Whitman, 
in  1848.  I  iieard  him  say  repeatedly,  on  tlie  Journey  and  after  we  reached 
ills  inisslcn,  W'aillatpu,  that  he  went  to  the  states  In  the  wllilerof  1842  and 
1843  for  tlie  solo  purpose  of  lirlnglngan  Immigration  with  wagons  across  tiie 
plains  to  Oregon.  He  was  called  down  to  old  Fort  Walla  Walla  (p'  .v  Wal- 
lula),  then  a  Hudson's  Hay  Conipan.v's  trading  post,  on  a  sick  call,  about  the 
last  days  of  Heptember,  184'J.  While  there,  and  din  lug  with  tiio  trader  In  charge 
of  the  fort,  Archibald  Kinley,  Esq.,  the  Hudson's  Hay  Company's  express 
from  the  north,  caine  In  and  reported  that  slxt.v  families  from  Hrltisii  pos- 
sessions would  be  at  Walla  Walln  as  early  the  next  summer  as  tlie.v  posslbl.v 
could  orrive,  to  settle  prolmlily  In  tiie  Yakima  valley.  There  was  a  general 
outburst  of  rejoicing  over  tiie  news  by  the  Jesull  priests,  oliiates,  fort  em- 
ployees, etc.,  wiio  were  at  tliat  time  tliere,  all  shouting,  "the  couiitr.v  is  ours; 
the  Ashburton  treaty  lias,  of  course,  been  signed."  Tin'  doctor,  pusiiing  his 
chair  lja<'k  from  tlie  table,  and  excusing  liimself,  said  he  would  go  home  (to 
Wailiatpu)  tiial  afternoon  itwenty-Hve  nilli-s),  and  start  liiiiiiediately  to  the 
states  overland.  He  then  and  there  told  trader  MeKlnley  and  his  guests, 
that  during  the  next  summer  he  would  bring  overland  tei^  American  Imml- 


plJ)    ]JR.    M.   WHITMAN   SAVE  OBKOON? 


IS 


hrnln  of 

k.v,  and 
poiird  of 
resldpiit, 
JoiigresN 
|i»  of  tHe 
JJieni  to 
loral  In- 
[lly  and 
fvithout 
Von  and 

GJOY. 


Kianls  for  every  one  that  would  eoine  from  Canada.  He  returned  that  after- 
noon, as  he  said  he  would,  and  with  but  little  preparation,  except  to  have 
Kood  horses,  started  on  the  pc^rilous  Journey  llie  third  day  of  October,  l»l«', 
with  Hon.  A.  L.  Lovejoy  as  traveling  companion. 

*  *  *  I  think  he  reached  Wash Ingt on  on  the  twelfth  day  of  February, 
lSl.'t.  Secretary  Webster  reeeived  hlni  coolly.  He  s-  id  he  almost  ".-nubbed 
him,"  but  the  president,  Mr.  Tyler,  treated  him  and  the  possibility  of  a 
waKon  road  across  the  plains  to  the  (,'oluml>la  river,  with  a  just  considera- 
tion. He,  the  president,  gave  the  doctor  a  hearlnn,  and  promised  him  that 
tlie  Ashhurton  treaty,  then  pending  [a  mistake],  would  lujt  he  signed  until 
he  would  hear  of  the  success  or  failure  of  the  doctor  In  openluK  a  wagon  road 
to  the  Columbia  river.  The  first  of  the  immigrant  wagons  iirrlved  at  Waiil- 
atpu,  Walla  Walla  valley,  on  the  (hird  day  of  September,  I8W,  [perhaps  23d, 
see  MinHoiuiri/  Herald,  ISU,  p.  177J,  having  left  Missouri  about  the  first  of  May. 

His  visit  to  Uw.  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  I  think,  was  after  he  had  been  to  Washing- 
Ion.  At  any  rate  he  told  me,  also  his  aged  mother  and  other  relatives  In  tlic 
State  of  New  York,  that  the  Board  censured  lilm  in  very  strong  terms  for 
leaving  his  "post  of  duty"  on  a  proj(?ct  so  foreign  to  tluit  which  they  had 
sent/iim  out  to  perform.  Also  informed  hfm  that  they  had  no  money  to 
spend  in  tlie  opening  up  of  the  western  country  to  settlement.  I  am  quite  sure 
he  bore  his  own  expenses.  He  always  alluded  to  his  visit  to  mother  and  the 
Board  of  Missions  as  a  secondary  consideration  for  making  the  winter  trip. 
He  only  visited  his  mother  and  relatives  three  days,  and  he  and  myself  bade 
them  good-ljye  and  started  for  Oregon  on  the  2()th  of  April,  18*1. 

When  (I'ncle)  Dr.  Whitman  reached  the  frontier  of  Missouri,  he  in  many 
ways  informed  the  public  of  his  intention  to  nllot  any  and  all  immigrants 
who  might  wish  to  go  to  t  )regon.  It  was  arranged  for  them  to  rendezvous  at 
or  in  the  vicinity  of  Westport  or  Independence,  Mo. 

Hoping  that  these  few  Items  may  be  of  some  little  assistance  to  you  in 
proving  that  Dr.  Whitman  saved  this  country  to  tlxe  United  States  Govern- 
ment, I  will  subscribe  myself,  Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  P.  B.  WHITMAN. 


In  tlie  Wcckl.i/  Axtorinu  of  December  17,  1880,  is  a  letter  to  the 
public  by  Mr.  Whitman,  obtained  by  Mr.  Gray,  October  11,  1880, 
in  which  he  ma^res  similar  etutements,  though  not  as  full,  and 
adds: 


Dr.  Whitman's  trip  ICast,  in  the  winter  of  1842-J3,  was  for  the  double  pur- 
pose of  bringing  an  immigration  across  the  plains,  and  also  to  prevent.  If 
possible,  the  trading  off  of  ihis  nort invest  coast  to  the  British  Government. 

*  *  *  While  crossing  the  plains  I  repeatedly  heard  tlie  doctor  express 
himself  as  Vtcing  very  anxious  to  succeed  in  opening  a  wagon  road  across 
the  continent  to  the  Columbia  river,  and  thereby  stay,  if  not  entirely  pre- 
vent, the  trading  of  this  nr)rthwest  coast,  then  pending  between  the  United 
States  and  the  British  (lovernment.  In  after  years  the  doctor,  with  much 
pride  and  sal IsfacI ion,  reverted  to  his  success  In  bringing  the  Immigration 
across  the  plains,  and  thought 't  one  of  the  means  of  saving  Oregon  to  his 
government.  I  remained  with  i\lm  continuously  till -Vugust,  1K17,  when  he 
sent  me  to  The  Dalles.    He  was  murdered  the  following  November. 

(Signed)  P.  B.  WHITMAN. 


14 


DID    DR.    M.  WHITMAN  SAVE  OREGON? 


(8.)     HON.  ALAN80N  HINMAN. 


^ 

1 1 ; 


Mr.  Hinman  is  now  a  merch.mt  at  Forest  Grove,  Oregon,  and 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Tualatin  Academy  and 
Pacific  University.  In  June,  1882,  in  conversation  with  him,  he 
gave  me  the  following  items,  to  which  a  year  later  he  signed  hie 

name: 

Forest  Grove,  Oregon,  June  8, 1888. 
Rev.  M.  Eeli^s: 

Sir— In  answer  to  your  inquiries  about  Dr.  Whitman,  I  will  say  that  I  came 
to  this  coast  in  1844,  and  remained  that  wint«r  at  Walla  Walla  [then  Walll- 
atpu]  teaching  school  for  Dr.  M.  Whitman.  About  the  next  June  (18*J),  I 
came  to  the  Willamette  with  Dr.  Whitman  In  1847,  at  the  time  of  his  mas- 
sacre, I  was  temporarily  In  charge  of  the  station  at  The  Dalles  with  Mr.  P. 
B.  Whitman. 

Dr.  Whitman  told  me  that  lie  went  East  in  1842  with  two  objects,  one  to  as- 
sist the  mission,  the  other  to  save  the  country  to  the  United  States.  I  do  not 
think  he  would  have  gone  that  winter,  had  it  not  been  that  the  danger 
seemed  to  him  very  great  that  the  country  would  be  obtained  by  England, 
but  would  have  deferred  the  Journey  until  spring.  He  first  went  to  Wash- 
ington, afterwards  to  New  York,  to  see  Mr.  Horace  Greeley,  who  was  known 
to  bo  a  friend  of  thls>  country.  He  went  there  dressed  in  his  rough  clothes, 
much  the  same  that  he  wore  across  the  continent.  When  he  knocked  at  the 
door  a  lady  came,  Mrs.  Greeley  or  a  daughter,  I  tliink,  and  seeing  such  a 
rough-looking  person,  said  to  his  inquiries  for  Mr.  Greeley,  "  Not  at  home." 
Dr.  Whitman  started  away.  She  went  and  told  Mr.  Greeley  about  him,  and 
Mr.  Greeley,  who  was  of  much  the  same  style,  and  cared  but  little  for  looks, 
looking  out  the  window  and  seeing  him  going  away,  said  to  call  him  in.  It 
was  done,  and  they  had  a  long  talk  about  this  northwest  coast  and  its  polit- 
ical relations.  '  Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  A.  HINMAN. 


M 


(9.)    SAMUEL  J.  PARKER,  1.1.  D. 


!  -i  1 


Rev,  Samuel  J.  Parker  was  the  pioneerof  the  Oregon  niisHions  of 
the  American  Board.  He  offered  himself  to  the  work  in  IK^S, 
started  in  18;^4,  but  wa*i  too  late  for  the  annual  caravan,  so  re- 
turned, and  during  the  winter  found  Dr.  Whitman  and  interested 
him  in  the  work.  They  came  together  into  the  Kocky  mountains 
in  1K3.5,  v'hen  Dr.  Whitman  returned  for  more  lahorere,  and  ^[r. 
Parker,  completed  an  exploring  tour  in  Oregon,  returning  home 
in  1837  by  way  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  and  Cape  Horn,  and 
published  a  book  cm  the  subject— "  Parker's  Exploring  Tour." 

He  died  at  Ithica,  N.  Y.,  in  1860.  In  an  article  in  the  Muinion- 
aif/  JInald,  Mjt  •  1870,  his  son,  Pi-of.  H.  W.  Parker  of  ririunell 
College,  Iowa,  says:  "When  Dr.  Whitman  came  in  haste,  in 
184.'},  to  warn  our  government  of  British  designs,  he  counselled 
with  his  aged  fellow  missionary."  A  letter  to  Prof.  Parker  for  more 


DID   DB.    M.   WHITMAN  SAVE  OREGON? 


16 


fegon,  and 
lemy  and 
|h  him,  he 
pigned  his 

[ine  8, 1888. 

;hat  I  came 
■hen  Walll- 
ine  (isiTj),  I 
•f  hi8  mu«- 
"'Ith  Mr.  P. 

1,  one  to  tts- 
«•    I  flo  not 
the  danger 
y  England, 
t  to  Wash- 
vas  known 
(?h  clothes, 
•ked  at  the 
l"g  such  a 
■  at  home." 
t  him, and 
i  for  looks, 
I'm  In.    It 
Id  itfipollt- 

INMAN. 


SHlons  of 
in  IHHH, 
I,  so  re- 
terested 
iintains 
nd  Jfr. 
?  lionie 
rn,  and 
ir." 

fmion- 
rinnell 
«te,  in 
iHelled 
rmorp 


information  on  this  point,  brought  a  reply  referring  the  writer  to 
his  brother,  Dr.  S.  J.  Parker,  as  the  one  who  was  at  home  at  the 
time  of  Dr.  Whitman's  visit.  Tn  reply  to  inquiries.  Dr.  Parker, 
who  was  between  twenty-five  and  thirty  years  old,  probably,  at 
that  time,  wrote : 

ITHICA,  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  Feb.  16, 1883. 
Rkv.  M.  Kei.i.s: 

Dmr  Sir— Your  note  of  Inquiry  of  January  31st  is  at  hand.  I  reply,  first,  I 
was  at  home,  in  the  room  in  which  I  now  write  (as  I  own  the  old  homestead) 
when  Dr.  Whitman,  In  1813,  unexpectedly  arrived,  in  a  rather  rough,  but  not 
as  outlandish  a  dress  as  some  writers  say  he  had  on.  Alter  the  surprise  of 
liis  arrival  was  over,  ho  said  to  my  father:  "I  have  come  on  a  very  import- 
ant errand.  We  must  both  go  at  once  to  Washington  or  Oregon  is  lost,  ceded 
to  the  English."  M.v  father  objected  to  going,  and  thought  the  danger  less 
than  Dr.  Whitman  thought  It  was.  They  talked  several  hours  about  it.  My 
first  memory  was,  as  I  wrote  to  Hon.  Elwood  Evans  of  New  Tacoma,  Wash- 
ington Territory,  tliat  both  went  In  a  day  or  two  to  Washington,  but  In  this 
€  may  be  mistaken,  as  to  my  father.  I  know  that  Dr.  Whitman  went,  either 
the  next  day  or  a  day  or  two  after  he  came  to  see  my  father. 

Dr.  Whitman  came  to  see  my  father  after  his  return  from  Washington,  and 
described  his  Interview  with  the  president  and  others  there.  At  both  times 
the  subject  of  emigration  was  talked  of.  Dr.  Whitman  said  many  in  Illinois 
and  Missouri,  etc.,  were  ready  to  go,  and  would  go  in  the  spring  as  soon  as 
grass  grew.    It  must  have  been  February  the  doctor  was  here.    *    *    * 

With  kind  regards  I  am,  etc., 
(Signed)  S.  J.  PARKER,  M.  D. 


(10.)    REV.  WILLIAM  BARROWS,  D.  D. 

Mr.  Barrows  was,  in  1843,  teaching  school  at  St.  Louis,  when 
Dr.  Whitman  arrived  there  from  Oregon. 

Hays  Dr.  Atkinson,  in  an  address  (page  11)  before  the  Oregon 
Pioneer  and  Historical  iSociety  in  1876 : 

A  gentleman.  Dr.  William  Harrows,  then  a  teacher  in  .St.  Louis,  now  of 
Boston,  and  secretary  of  tlie  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society,  and 
who  saw  him,  clad  in  his  buflViloand  blanket  robes,  with  frozen  feet  and 
hands,  standing  among  tlie  mountaineers,  resisting  their  entreaties  to  stop 
and  tell  the  story  of  his  winter  trip,  and  then  hasten  on  to  Washington, 
never  forgot  the  impression  of  his  energy,  though  then  ignorant  of  its  aim. 

Mr.  liarrows  boarded  at  the  same  hotel  witli  Dr.  Whitman, 
and  learned  more  of  his  aim  at  subsefjuent  interviews  before  the 
latter  left  St.  Louis. 

In  the  iNV^r  Yok  Observer  for  December  21,  1882,  Dr.  Barroww 
tells  of  what  h«'  learned.    He  says  : 

II  w."  my  good  fortune  that  he  sliould  be  quartered  at  81.  Louis  as  a  guest 
under  I  he  stime  roof,  and  at  the  same  table  with  myself.  The  announcement 
of  his  arrival  In  the  little  city  of  twenty  thousand,  as  it  was  then,  came  as  a 
surprise  and  a  novelty.    In  those  times  it  was  a  rare  possibility  for  one  to 


\ 


16 


DID    DR.    M.   WHITMAN  SAVK  ORKCJON? 


(•OHIO  up  ill  tnl<l  wlntor  from  lUtiifs  Fort  or  Haiitii  Fe,  much  more  I'roiii  Fort 
Hfill  and  tlio  Colmiihia.  The  Ilocky  mountuiii  nuMi,  trapporH  and  triidcrs, 
the  advonturt'i'M  in  New  Mexico,  and  the  contraetorn  for  our  mllltiiry  poHts, 
the  Indian  men  laying  up  vast  fortuncH,  half  n-oin  tlie  government  and 
half  from  the  poor  Indian,  gatliered  about  Dr.  Whitman  for  fresh  news  from 
their  places  of  Interest. 

What  about  furs  and  peltries?  How  many  bufl'alo  robes  would  come  down 
by  June  on  the  spring  rise  of  the  Missouri?  Were  Indian  goods  at  the  posts 
In  nush,  or  fair,  or  scant  supply?       *•«»•♦•** 

But  the  d(H^tor  was  in  great  haste,  and  could  not  delay  to  talk  of  beaver 
and  Indian  goods,  and  wars,  and  reservations,  and  treaties.  He  had  (lui-s- 
tions  and  not  answers.  Was  the  Ashburton  treaty  concluded?  Did  It  cover 
the  northwest?  Where  and  what  and  whose  did  It  leave  Oregon?  He  wa" 
so<jn  answered.  Webster  and  .Ashburton  had  signed  that  treaty  on  the  0th 
of  August  preceding.       ♦«»*«*«««*** 

Then  instantly  he  had  other  ()uestlons  for  his  .St.  Louis  visitors.  Was  the 
Oregon  question  under  discussion  In  Congress?  What  opinions,  projects  or 
hills  concerning  It  were  being  urged  in  Senate  and  House?  Would  anything 
important  he  settled  hefort^  the  approaching  adjournment  on  the  fourth  of 
March?  Could  he  reach  Washington  before  the  adjournment?  He  mus|^ 
leave  at  once,  and  he  went. 

With  all  the  warmth,  and  almost  burden,  of  skin  and  fur  clothing,  he  bore 
the  marks  of  the  irresistible  cold  and  merciless  storms  of  his  journey.  His 
Angers,  ears,  nose  and  feet  had  been  frost-bitten,  and  were  giving  him  much 
trouble. 

Dr.  Whitman  was  In  St.  Louis,  midway  between  Washington  and  Oregon, 
and  carried  business  of  weighty  import,  that  must  not  he  delayed  by  private 
Interests  and  courtesies.  In  the  wilds  and  storms  of  the  mountains  he  had 
fed  on  mules  and  dogs,  yet  now  sumptuous  and  complimentary  dinners 
had  no  attractions  for  him.  He  was  happy  to  meet  men  of  the  army  and  of 
commerce  and  fur,  but  he  must  hasten  on  to  sec  Daniel  Webster.  Exchang- 
ing saddle  for  stage— for  the  river  was  closed  by  ice— he  pressed  on,  and 
arrived  at  Washington  March  M. 


P-a? 


(II.)    HON.  ALEXANDER  RAMSEY. 

Having  learned  that  f  Jov.  Ramsey,  while  on  this  coast  in  1880, 
stated  that  he  had  met  Dr.  Whitman  in  Washington  City  in 
184S,  the  writer  addressed  a  letter  to  him  on  the  subject,  and 
received  the  following  reply : 


Rkv.  M.  Eells: 


.Office  of  thk  Utah  Com.hi.ssion,       | 

Salt  Lake,  City,  I'tah,     V 

.August  1.5,  im. ) 


Dear  Sir—  *  *  *  I  was  first  elected  to  Congress  from  Peftnsylvania  In 
October,  1842.  For  technical  reasons  the  election  went  for  nanght,  and  I  was 
re-elected  In  1848,  and  again  In  1845,  serving  throughout  the  28th  and  2!ltli 
congresses,  from  December,  1843,  to  March,  1847.  In  the  winter  of  1842-4.'}  I 
visited  Washington  and  called  upon  Mr.  Joshua  Olddlngs,  who  was  at  that 

time  boarding  at  Mrs. on  Capitol  Hill,  In  what  was  then  called  Dutr 

Green's  How.  The  building  Is  still  standing.  When  so  visiting  Mr.  (4lddlngs 
Introduced  me  to  Dr.  Whitman,  who  talked  to  me  and  others  of  the  dlftlcul- 
tles  of  his  Journey,  of  the  character  of  the  country,  Indian  aflalrs,  British 
encroachments,  etc.       *♦****«**«** 


DID    DK.   M.   WHITMAN  SAVK   OREGON? 


17 


The  time  l«  very  remote,  and  It  Is  difficult  for  mo  to  go  more  fully  Into  the 
matter.  Hon.  Daniel  R.  Tllden  and  Hon.  Columbus  Delano,  both  of  Ohio  as 
members  of  I'onKress  at  the  time,  and  both  boarding  at  the  same  home  with 
Mr.  (ilddlngs,  are  still  survlvl'ig,  and  may  possibly  recollect  something  of  the 
matter.    Tllden  Is  at  Cleveland  and  Delano  at  Mount  Vernon, 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  ALEX.  RAMSEY. 


REMARKS  ON  THE    POREQOING  EVIDENCE. 

There  are  some  points  in  the  foregoing  evidence  which  are  evi- 
dently iniutalieH,  yet  tliere  are  not  enough  of  them  by  any  means, 
in  the  writer's  opinion,  to  invalidate  the  whole. 

Mr.  Spalding's  and  Mr.  Gray's  testimony  need  the  most  criti- 
cism. 

(A.)  As  to  the  toast  and  cheers  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Mr.  Spald- 
ing and  Mr.  Gray  say  tliat  the  news  came  that  the  Red  river 
immigration  was  over  tlie  mountains— Mr.  Gray  says  at  Colville. 
But  Mr.  McKinley,  then  in  cluirge,  in  a  letter  to  Hon.  Elwood 
Evans,  says  tliat  that  immigration  came  in  1841. 

To  settle  tiie  matter  the  writer  wrote  to  J.'  Flett,  H.  Buxton 
and  C.  R.  McKay,  who  came  in  that  immigration,  to  know  the 
year,  and  received  tlie  following  replies : 


(1.) 

Lakeview,  Piekce  Co.,  W.  T.,  Sept.  3, 1881. 
Rev.  M,  Eei-ls  : 

Mil  Dear  Ni)—1  received  yours  of  Aug.  I),  1882,  yesterday.  *  *  *  You  want 
to  know  what  year  wo  came.  ♦  *  *  We  left  Red  river  Selkirk  settlement 
on  the  5tli  day  of  .lune,  1811;  crossed  the  Rocky  mountains  on  the  5th  day  of 
August  over  snow  ;  passed  north  Hell  Gate ;  arrived  Walla  Walla,  5th  day 
of  October;  arrived  8th  day  of  November  at  Fort  Nesqually.  There  were 
eighteen  families  of  us— three  born  on  the  road  ;  died.  none.  I  know  of  but 
one  living  now  of  the  married  men,  that  is  James  Uurston  and  his  wife  in 
Washington  county,  Oregon.  Mrs.  Spence  Is  in  Multnomah  county,  Oregon. 
Mrs.  Caldrow  and  myself  are  iu  this  county.    *  *    * 

I  remain  very  sincerely, 
(Signed,)  JOHN  FLETT. 

(2.) 

FoHEST  Gkove,  Oregon,  Sept.  2, 1881. 
Rev.  M.  Eells,  Skokomish  : 

Vcar  tV!)-— Yours  of  the  7th  inst.  is  at  hand  and  contents  noted.  I  came 
with  my  parents  from  the  Red  river  settlement  in  1811.  We  spent  the  first 
year  on  the  Sennd,  near  what  was  then  Fort  Nesqually.     ******* 

There  was  an  article  of  agrecuient  signed  by  the  emigrants  of  that  com- 
pany and  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  that  tvas  in  the  hands  of 
my  father  for  a  long  time,  but  I  have  not  seen  it  for  many  years,  and  It  is 
probably  not  now  In  existence.  Yours  truly, 

(Signed)  HENRY  BUXTON. 


18 


DID   DR.    M.   WHITMAN  8AVK  ORKUON? 


(3.) 


Glencoe,  Wasiiinoton  ("oiinty,  Okkuon,  Auk.  21, 1881. 
DkakHir: 

I  received  your  letter  In  roKnrd  to  the  oiniKrntlon  frtHii  Hod  rlvetr.  Wo  left 
Red  river  tho  tllteenth  of  June,  1811.  We  wore  one  dity'H  travel  tlilH  side  of 
Hpokane  river  the  twcnty-sooond  of  Hoptoinbor,  whore  my  ulstor  was  horn. 
There  are  only  two  men  alive  that  had  fanillioN  when  wo  ''aino  throUKh— 
James  liurHton,  llvInK  In  Washington  county,  and  John  Klett.  '  '"  *•  My 
mother  1h  still  living.  Yours  respectfully, 

(HIgned)  ('1IAHI,F,H  R.  McKAY. 

These  letters  settle  the  ({iiestion  thut  the  iniiuif^ration  arrived 
in  1841.     It  Is  also  certain  that  they  never  went  to  (Jolville. 

Moreover,  Mr.  Spalding's  Journal  of  from  Septeniher  1-23, 
1841,  gives  an  account  of  a  journey  hy  himself  and  family  to 
Fort  Colville,     Under  date  of  Sept.  10,  1841,  he  says : 

Arrived  at  Colville.  Mr.  McDonald's  hrolher  Is  here  from  a  party  of  twcn- 
iy-three  families  from  the  Hod  rivor,  crossing  the  mountains  to  Hcttle  on  the 
Cowlitz,  as  half  servants  of  tho  oonipany.  Tlioy  started  with  oxon  and  carts. 
The  carts  are  left  and  they  are  paoklnK  thoir  oxen.  There  are  In  all  eighty 
persons  [probably  counting  ohlldr«'ii).  Tho  num  returns  to-morrow  with 
provisions. 

Exactly  what  did  occur  at  Fort  Walla  Walla  is  a  (luestion. 
The  following  letter  from  Dr.  (ieiger  gives  his  opinion: 

FOHEST  (iHOVK,  OllKOOX,  Oct.  17,  1881. 

Rev.  M.  Eei.ls: 

Dear  »Vir— Your  letter  Just  rooelved  asking  about  the  taunt  to  Dr.  Whilnmn. 
I  think  there  Is  a  misconception  In  the  matter.  Dr.  Whitman  had  got  In- 
formation of  Mr.  liovejoy  and  others  of  the  tmmlgratloii  of  1842,  that  the 
United  States  was  about  to  oxchango  this  country  lor  tho  Nowfoundlund 
banks  fisheries,  or  a  share  In  tlioni,  thnmuh  Ihr  rrpri'xrnttitimix  nf  thr  Ifiid.ion's 
Itay  Cumpany,  that  the  whole  country  wiv.s  u  Ixtn-rn  irn.itf.  Hut  the  doctor, 
knowing  tho  value  of  this  countr.v  iracltlc  coast),  wont  to  Fort  Walla  Walla 
to  find  out  about  It  (the  proposed  trade),  and  was  Informed  that  that  was  the 
expectation.  (As  witness  the  Red  river  emigration.)  lie.  Dr.  Whitman,  de- 
termined to  check  the  transa<'tIon,  If  possible.  ■•''  ■'  ■'"  I  think  the  special 
year  of  this  emigration  had  nothing  more  to  do  with  tht>  matter  than  here 
represented.  I  can  not  cull  to  mind  any  other  Icuturcsuf  tho  transaction 
from  any  or  all  of  my  conversations  or  writings  with  Dr.  Whitman.  '3ut 
this  condition  I  had  so  burned  Into  my  memory  that  I  can  not  forget  It. 
Hoping  these  few  lines  will  explain  to  .vour  .satisfaction,  I  am  as  ever, 

Yours  sincerely, 
(Signed)  WILLIAM  UKIGKR,  Jr.,  M.D. 

Mr.  P.  B.  Whitman  gives  another  explanation,  that  another 
emigration  was  to  come  the  next  year,  of  sixty  families,  to  settle 
in  the  Yakima  valley. 

(B.)  Mr.  Spalding  and  Mr.  Gray  give  this  occurrence  at  Walla 
Walla  as  the  primal  cause  for  the  starting  of  Dr.  Whitman,  while 


DID    I>l<.    M.    WHITMAN  SAVK  OUKdON? 


19 


»g,  21,  1R81. 

VfT.      Wp  Icit 

lliiN  side  of 
IT  WON  born, 
le  tlirongh— 

■■••    "    ■>    My 

t.  McKAY. 

on  arrived 
ville. 

ruber  1-23, 
family  to 


ivrty  of  twen- 
sottle  on  t'he 
on  and  carts, 
in  till  elKhty 
iiorrow  Willi 


11  «iue8tion. 


Dot.  17,  1881. 

>r.  Whitman, 
n  had  got  In- 
K42,  thiit  the 
Avfonndland 
Ihr  Jliidxon's 
t  tlip  doctor, 
VViitla  Wiilla 
t  hat  was  the 
S'liltnian,  dc- 

U    the  KJU'Clul 

lor  than  hero 
transaction 
iltnian.  '.tut 
not  forget  it. 
<  evor, 

t,  Jr.,  M.  D. 

itit  another 
ei^,  to  settle 


L'e  at  Walla 
man,  while 


I 


Mr.  KellH  says  that  his  Koin^  waw  (lotfrnihuMl  upon  before,  but 
allowH  a  I'haiU'c  for  this  ofcurreiu'e.  Proliably  whatever  occurred 
there  made  hint  more  earnest  to  hasten  the  Journey. 

(C)  Afessrs.  Spalding,  Oray  and  Wliltman  say  lie  went  to  Fort 
Walla  Walla  on  a  sick  call;  Dr.  Helger,  that  he  went  to  learn 
al)out  the  intentions  of  the  Knglish  government.  The  writer 
can  not  see  why  both  may  not  have  been  true. 

(D.)  Mr.  Si)alding  refers  to  Mr.  Applegate  as  one  who  was 
induced  l)y  Dr.  Whitman  to  come  to  this  country.  This  is  a  mis- 
take, as  lu-reaftcr  a  letter  will  be  given  fron.  Mr.  Applegate 
denying  tills. 

(Ki.)  Mr.  Spalding  says  that  the  intention  was  to  put  the  Ore- 
gon (luostion  into  the  Asldiurton  treaty.  This  is  a  mistake,  as 
tliat  treaty  had  been  signed  six  months  previous  to  Dr.  Whit- 
man's arrival  at  Washington. 

Messrs.  Spalding,  Wliitman  and  (iray  testify  that  while  at 
Walla  Walla,  Dr.  Whitman  said  lie  would  go  for  an  immigration 
and  to  save  the  country.  But  Dr.  Geiger  says  he  kept  ([Uiet 
about  tills  object  of  his  journey,  and  Mrs.  Walker  tells  why  they 
kept  <iuiet  afterwards. 

Perliajis  both  may  liave  been  true.  At  first,  under  a  little  ex- 
citement, lie  may  have  said  something,  but  afterwards  been  more 
guarded  on  this  point,  and  said  more  al)()ut  missionary  business. 

Yet  these  very  variations  in  tlie  testimony  sliow  that  there  has 
been  no  iigreemeiit  amoiitr  the  witnesses  to  get  up  a  scheme  to 
glorify  Dr.  Wliitman.  In  fact  some  of  them  knew  notning  of 
what  others  had  said.  Dr.  dleiger,  wlien  he  gave  his  testimony, 
knew  nothing,  he  said,  of  what  Mr.  Hlnnian,  Dr.  S.  .1.  Parker  or 
Dr.  Barrows  had  said,  and  the  same  is  true  of  other  witnesses. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  tliese  mistakes  and  discrepancies,  four 
points  remain  proved,  unless  we  reject  the  testimony  of  these 
persons,  most  of  wliom  were  Dr.  Whitman's  intimate  associates. 

1st.  Dr.  Whitman's  main  intent  in  that  journey  was  to  save 
the  country. 

t^ays  Hon.  Elwood  Evans,  in  the  Seattle  IntdUyenccr  of  April 

oOth,  1881,  after  discussing  the  (luestion  at  length  : 

Therpforc,  it  seems  manU'ost  that  there  was  such  a  condition  of  affairs  In 
the  Oregon  mission  ns  to  urge  his  immediate  going,  and  that  such  was  the 
cause,  and  tlie  only  cause,  of  his  proceeding  to  Uoston  on  business  of  the 
mission,  and  that  no  motive  existed  for  nor  did  he  start  to  Washington  City 
on  political  business. 


;  I 


m 


20 


UID    DH.   M.   WHITMAN  SAVK  OBKtiON? 


^i 


A  similar  otatement  is  made  by  the  Hanie  writer  in  the  North 
Pacific  Coast  for  April  iHt,  IHW). 

Mrs.  F.  F.  Victor  says  also,  in  The  Valifornian  for  Heptember, 
1880: 

There  tttlll  remalnH  the  romantic,  thoiiKh  iinrortnnatply  roundatlonless, 
story  ol  Dr.  Whltman'n  visit  to  WiinliliiKton  with  a  political  p'Tpose. 

Yet  the  first  ten  of  the  witneKses,  as  lierc  (luoted,  and  who 
talked  with  Dr.  Whitman,  say  that  this  was  his  main  object- 

2d.     Dr.  Whitman  went  to  V/nnhington  City. 

Says  Hon.  E.  Evans,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  datt-d  March 
14,  1881: 

There  Is  no  authenticated  evidence  that  Dr.  Whitman  led  Washington 
City  at  all  dnrlng  that  Journey. 

Says  Mrs.  F.  F.  Victor,  paye  9,  of  "Did  Dr.  Wliitman  Save 
Oregon?"  quoted  from  Ihtilij  Antnrian: 

There  Is  no  proof  anywhere  tMut  he  |l)r.  Whitman)  went  to  Washington, 
though  It  Is  probable  enough,  as  all  Americans  having  been  In  Oregon  were 
welcomed  by  the  government  as  means  of  Information. 

But  nearly  all  of  the  witnesses  state  that  he  said  he  went  there, 
while  Gov.  Ramsey's  evidence  nmst  settle  that  pohit. 


3d.  Dr.  Whitman  did  do  good  ])olitical  woriv  for  Oregon  at 
Washington. 

Says  Hon.  E.  Evans,  in  u  letter  to  the  writer  dated  March 
14, 1881 : 

I  am  satlsfled  that  It  [Dr.  Whitman's  winter  journey]  had  nothing  what- 
ever to  do  with  the  settlement  of  the  Oregon  boundary  ;  had  no  cll'ect  what- 
ever, direct  or  indirect,  upon  the  negotiations  between  the  two  countries  as  to 
the  territory. 

Says  Mrs.  F.  F.  Victor,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  dated  April 
3,  1888 : 

The  patriotic  and  pleasing  account  given  In  Gray's  History  was  a  Action 
of  his  lively  Imagination. 

But  Dr.  Geiger,  as  well  as  Mr.  Spalding  and  Mr.  Gray,  say  that 
he  did,  while  Messrs.  P.  B.  Whitman,  Parlier  and  Lovejoy  hint 
very  strongly  of  the  same. 


%  , 


DID    I>B.    M.    WHITMAN  HAVK  OIIKOON" 


21 


It  Ifl  not  noo(>HHnry  to  holiovt'  that  an  odlcliil  treaty  wtw  thon 
iMidcr  coiiHitlt'ration,  but  only  tluit  int'ornuil  action  \vn»  iM'hif^ 
taken  l)y  Mr.  WebHtiT  willi  prominent  pernoiiH  l)elonKiiiK  to 
Great  lirilain,  which  would  virtuuliy  coniniit  them  when  tho 
Hubjeet  Hliould  come  up  in  an  ofllcial  way. 


OBJECTIONS. 

Objection  1.  TiieHe  statements  were  all  nmile  of  late  years. 
Mrs.  Vietor  says  in  tlje  AntoHan: 

I  do  not  prclpiul  to  sny  whiil  was  \\w  object  of  Mr.  (Imy  Iti  luloplInK  tlio 
fiction,  wlilcli  lu>  liiiN  luipoMod  upon  tlio  world  uh  hlHtory.  Hut  tlilH  I  do  Nay, 
and  can  Nul)stitntlat«  It,  tliiit  until  Mr.  Uray,  about  \m\,  Hut  tlio  Htory  udoat, 
nobody  had  ever  heard  of  It. 

Dr.  Geiger'H  statement  j^ives  one  reason  why  it  was  not  imme- 
diately puldished — because  it  would  arouse  tlie  enmity  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  ('ompany.  Mrs.  Wallier  gives  another  reaaon— for 
fear  it  would  bring  disgrace  on  the  mission. 

Still  it  was  given  earlier  than  Mrs.  Vic^tor  Is  willing  to  allow. 
The  writer  can  remember  hearing  of  it  between  \Hol  and  1802. 
Mr.  Bpaldlng  published  it  in  the  Pwiflo  in  18(54. 

Rev.  C.  Eells  published  it  in  the  Mmlonar/f  Jfirakl  in  Decem- 
ber, 1866,  and  Mr.  Treat,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  A.  B.  C.  P. 
M.,  made  great  use  of  it  almost  as  soon  as  It  was  obtained  from 
Mr.  Eells,  and  it  was  copied  into  many  prominent  eastern  papers. 
Mr.  Eells  then  said,  in  the  hearing  of  the  writer,  to  his  wife,  sub- 
stantially as  follows:  "See  what  a  great  man  like  Mr.  Treat  can 
do  with  such  a  fact.  The  world  is  greatly  aroused  by  It,  while  we 
less  noted  ones  have  been  trying  to  say  the  same  thing  for  years, 
but  the  world  does  not  get  hold  of  it  until  a  great  man  makes  it 
public." 

Objection  2.  This  statement  impugns  the  i)atriotlsn»  of  Secre- 
tary Webster.  Hon.  Klwood  Evans  says,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer, 
dated  May  10,  1882,  about  this  theory,  "  which  I  regard  as  unjust 
to  the  memory  of  Daniel  Webster."  *  *  *  "The  policy  seems 
unwise  and  wrong,  to  attempt  to  build  the  reputation  of  Dr. 
Whitman  upon  impugning  the  patriotism  of  others." 

But  the  patriotism  of  Mr.  Webster  is  not  impugned ;  only  his 
knowledge,  which  such  men  as  Dr.  Whitman  set  rignt.  No  man, 
not  even  Mr.  Webster,  could  know  everything,  without  gaining 
information   from  others.    Mr.    Dayton's,  Archer's  or  Choate'a 


22 


DID   DR.  M.   WHITMAN  SAVE    OREGON? 


';■( 


1:1 


patriotism  ia  not  impugned  by  tlieir  speeclies  on  tlie  Oregon  ques- 
tion— only  their  knowledge. 

Objection  3.  There  is  no  evidence  to  show,  which  can  be  found 
at  Washington,  or  anywhere,  altliough  search  lias  l)con  made  for 
it,  that  Webster  ever  had  any  idea  of  trading  ott"  this  country,  or 
a  part  of  it,  for  the  codflshery  of  Newfoundland.  Moreover,  Mr. 
Webster  said  in  a  speech  in  the  U.  S.  Senate :  "  Tlie  government 
of  the  United  States  has  never  oftered  any  line  south  of  49°  (with 
the  navigation  of  the  Columbia)  and  it  never  will."  Worlis  of 
D.  Webster,  vol.  5,  p.  73. 

In  a  letter  from  ilev.  J.  G.  Craighead  to  the  writer,  dated  May 
10,  1883,  he  says  :  "  What  you  say  about  negotiations  betw€>en 
influential  persons  is  laughed  at  by  the  State  Department,  as  not 
possible,  and  absurd  on  tiie  very  face  of  it.  Mr.  Hunter,  then  in 
State  Department,  and  for  nearly  a  generation  chief  clerk,  takes 
no  stock  whatever  in  tlie  big  claim  for  Dr.  Whitman." 

It  is  true  that  no  records  have  been  found  which  state  that  Mr. 
Webster  had  much,  if  any,  idea  of  selling  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment any  of  the  country  south  of  4'J°,  yet  tliere  is  some  circum- 
stantial evidence  which  points  that  way. 

■  In  the  United  States  Senate,  in  1844,  a  resolution  was  offered  to 
give  the  necessary  twelve  months'  notice  to  Great  Britain,  for  tlie 
termination  of  the  treaty  wliich  granted  joint  occupancy  to  Itoth 
nations.  All  the  senators  claimed  our  riglits  as  good  as  far  north 
as  49°,  and  yet  for  various  reasons  a  majority  opposed  the  motion 
— some  for  fear  it  would  involve  us  in  war,  some  for  fear  that  it 
would  have  a  bad  effect  on  the  negotiations  wliicli  it  was  said 
would  soon  be  made,  and  for  which  j^i'dhniuaiy  arrangements 
ivere  in  progress,  some  because  of  tlic  worthlessuess  of  the  coun- 
try, and  some  because  they  wanted  no  more  territory. 

In  regard  to  these  latter  i)()ints,  Mr.  Dayton,  of  New  Jersey, 
said  (February  S^,  and  20,  1844,  Congrcmional  Globe,  p.  27"),  etc.), 
as  lie  (juoted  a  de.scri[)tion  of  the  country  from  the  Christian  Ad- 
vocate of  February  7tli :  , 

with  the  exception  oftheluiid  uloii);  the  WIllaiiii>ttP  and  strips  alont;  ii 
few  of  tlie  water  conrses,  the  whole  country  is  anions  the  most  irroclalnnible 
barren  wastes  of  which  we  have  read,  except  the  desert  of  Sahara.  Nor  Is 
this  the  worst  of  It.  Tlie  ellniate  Is  so  unfriendly  to  hunian  life  that  the 
native  population  has  dwindled  away  und' r  the  niviii;es  of  its  nnilarla  to  a 
degree  which  deti'»s  all  history  to  furnish  a  parallel  In  so  wide  a  ran^e  ol 
country. 


I 


.J 


DID  DR.   M.   WHITMAN  SAVK  OREGON? 


23 


He  also  read  from  the  Lo'iisville  Journal,  as  republished  in  the 
National  Intelligencer  of  Washington  : 

"Of  all  the  eountrles  on  the  face  of  thiH  earth,  It  (Oregr  n)  is  one  of  the  least 
favored  by  heaven.  It  Ik  the  mere  rtddllngs  of  creation.  It  Is  almost  as  bar- 
ren as  the  desert  of  Africa,  ari^  iiuitc  as  unhealthy  as  the  Campania  of  Italy. 
Mow  that  such  a  territory  should  excite  tha  hopes  and  cupidity  of  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  inducing  them  to  leave  comfortable  homes  for  its  heaps  of 
sands,  is,  indeed,  passing  strange. 

"  Russia  has  her  Siberia,  and  England  has  her  Botany  Bay,  and  if  the 
United  St4itCH  should  ever  need  a  country  to  which  ti,  banish  Its  rogues  and 
scoundrels,  the  utility  of  such  a  region  &•:  Oregon  would  be  demonstrated. 
Until  then  wo  are  perfectly  willing  to  leavj  this  magniflcent  country  to  the 
Indians,  trappers  and  butt'aloes,  that  rrj.m  over  its  sand  banks  and  by  the 
sides  of  its  rushing  and  unnavigable  ri  ers." 

I  confess  these  descriptions  are  somewhat  below  my  estimate.  I  had 
thought  it  a  poor  country  as  a  whole,  but  not  quite  so  poor  as  these  authentic 
accounts  would  make  it.  Yet  tliese  accounts  are  substantially  correct  as 
applied  to  the  councij  as  a  whole,  though  I  have  no  doubt  there  are  some 
green  spots,  some  strips  along  the  streams,  whtcli  may  be  good  and  even  per- 
haps rich  for  agricultural  purposes,  and  it  is  to  these  spots  that  the  glowing 
descriptions  have  been  applied.  *****  .Judging  from  all  sources  of 
authentic  information  to  which  I  have  had  access,  I  should  think  the  terri- 
tory, taken  togedier,  a  very  poor  region  for  agricultural  purposes,  and  in  that 
respect  unworthy  of  consideration  or  contest  at  the  hands  of  this  govern- 
ment. 

How  will  the  speedy  settlement  of  Oregon  affect  us?  In  my  judgment  It 
must  be  injuriously.  *  *  *  The  admission  of  Oregon  as  a  state  of  this 
Union  seems  to  me  as  undesirable  on  the  one  hand  as  it  is  improbable  on  the 
other— undesirable,  bo<!ause,  by  the  aid  of  the  representative  principle,  we 
have  already  spread  ourselves  to  a  vast  and  almost  unwieldy  extent.  I  have 
no  faith  in  Mie  unlimited  extension  of  this  government  by  the  aid  of  that 
principle.  *  *  We  have  already  conflicting  Interests  more  than  enough,  and 
(lod  forbid  l.hat  the  time  should  ever  come  when  a  state  on  the  banks  of  the 
Pacific,  wUh  its  interests  and  tendencies  of  trade  all  looking  toward  the 
Asiatic  nations  of  the  East,  shal'  add  its  jarring  cla'ms  to  our  already  dis- 
tracted and  overburdened  confederacy. 

But  it  la  not  '■nly  in  my  Judgment  undesirable,  but  improbable.  Distance 
and  the  ohamctei  of  intervening  country  are  natural  obstacles  forbidding 
the  idea.  I'.y  water,  the  distance  around  Cape  Horn  is  said  to  be  about  18,00() 
miles.  By  land,  the  distance  by  the  only  line  of  travel  is  about  tlve  thousand 
miles  from  this  spot  to  Vancouver,  in  the  valley  of  the  Willamette.  We  are 
much  nearer  to  tUe  rcnn)te  nations  of  Europe  than  to  Oregon.  And  when 
considered  with  reference  to  the  facilities  of  communication,  Europe  is  in 
comparison  our  next  door  neighbor.  And  this  state  of  things  must  continue 
unless  some  new  agent  of  communication  shall  cast  up.  The  pt)wer  of  steam 
has  been  suggested.  Talk  of  steam  conimunlcailon-a  railroad  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia,  Wliy  look  at  the  cost  and  bankrupt  condition  of  railroads 
proceeding  almost  froirj  your  capital,  traversing  your  great  thoroughfares. 
A  railroad  across  twenty-Hve  hundred  miles  of  prairie,  of  desert  and  of 
mountains.  Tlie  smoke  of  an  engine  across  those  terrible  Assures  of  that 
rocky  ledge,  where  the  smoKo  of  a  volcano  only  has  rolled  before!  Who  Is 
to  make  this  vast  Internal  or  rather  external  lmprosi,ii.ent?  The  State  of 
Oregon  or  the  United  States?  Whence  is  to  come  the  power?  Wl>o  supply 
the  means?  The  mines  of  .Mexl<'o  and  Peru  disembowelled  would  scarcely 
pay  a  penny  in  the  pound  of  the  cost.    Nothing  short  of  the  lamp  of  .Vladdin 


iT 


24 


DID    DR.    M.   WHITMAN  SAVE  ORPXlON  ? 


Will  sufllce  for  such  an  expenditure.  The  extravagance  of  the  suggcHtion 
seems  to  me  to  outrun  everything  which  we  know  of  modern  visionary 
scheming.  The  South  Sea  bubble,  the  Putchnuin's  speculation,  the  tulip 
roots,  our  own  In  the  town  lots  and  multlcaulls,  are  all  coninion-place  plod- 
ding In  comparison.  But  all  the  suggestion  seems  to  me  properly  part  and 
parcel  of  this  great  Inflated  whole. 

This  connection  being  out  of  tlie  question,  Mr.  Dayton  pro- 
ceeded to  discuss  tlie  question  if  it  iniglit  not  l)e  a  colony,  similar 
to  the  British  colonies,  and  of  this  idea  he  made  as  much  sport  as 
he  did  of  the  railroad. 

Other  senators  said  that  if  we  obtained  Oregon  we  could  not 
hold  it,  as  it  would  set  up  itself  as  an  independent  nation  after  a 
time. 

Mr.  Archer,  after  describing  the  difficulties  in  getting  to  the 
Willamette,  and  the  worthlessness  of  the  intervening  region, 
said: 

These  led  to  the  third  and  last  trao'.  of  valley  on  the  seaboard  of  the  Pacific, 
suited  for  an  Asiatic  (not  an  Americai.;  dependency,  if  It  were  to  be  regarded 
of  value  ap  a  dependency  at  all.  This  wasdcsiltnfp  of  harborage  and  could 
never  command  any  by  art.  The  country  taken  in  its  whole  extent  could 
at  no  day  certainly  have  a  very  largo  production,  nor  any  considerable  trade. 

Mr.  Breese,  of  Illinois,  on  the  other  hand,  replied  to  these  state- 
ments. Mr.  Choate,  of  Massachusetts,  had  hinted  at  "  equiva- 
lents for  Oregon."  Mr.  Breese  did  not  know  what  waw  meant, 
unless  money,  or  as  the  sen  itor  from  Rhode  Island  had,  in  1827, 
offered  a  resi.lution,  asking  the  President  to  open  a  negotiation 
with  Great  Britain  to  exchange  the  right,  title  and  interest  of  the 
United  States  to  the  territory  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains  for 
Upper  Canada,  so  sometliing  of  the  same  kind  might  now  be 
meant.  He  also  said  con  iderable  in  reply  to  certain  parties  who 
had  been  opposed  to  enlarging  our  territory  west,  ever  «ince  the 
Louisiana  purchase. 

Mr.  Breese  said  :  A  proposition  having  once  been  made  to  cede  Oregon  for 
Canada,  I  have  the  most  ferrful  misgivings  It  may  be  repeated,  unless  ar- 
rested by  the  prompt  and  decisive  action  of  the  Senate.  We  have  need,  sir, 
to  be  alarmed  at  this  fact  before  our  eyes,  at  every  suggestion  of  a  negotiation 
in  which  an  exchange  for  an  "e<|Uivalent  "  like  that  is  to  be  the  subject  for 
our  conference. 

The  motion  to  give  the  reciuisite  notice  was  linally  lost,  by  a 
vote  of  28  to  18,  every  whig  and  three  democrats  voting  against  it. 
Mr.  Webster  at  this  time  was  not  in  the  Senate,  but  he  was  a 
whig,  and  Mr.  Choat*',  from  Mr.  We'usi^er's  .state,  was  the  one 
who  spoke  about  exchanging  "eciuivalents  "  for  Oregon. 


mi)  DR.   M.   WHITMAN  SAVK  ORKGON? 


26 


iuggestion 
visionary 
tlic  tulip 
1 1  ace  plod- 
part  and 


Moreover,  two  years  later,  April  6th  and  7tli,  184G,  wlien  the 
value  of  Oregon  was  far  better  known,  Mr.  Webster  saifl  in  the 
Senate,  while  defending  his  part  in  the  Ashburton  treaty  of  1842, 
whi(!li  settled  the  northwestern  boundary  : 

Now,  what,  is  tills  river  St.  John?  We  have  heard  a  vast  deal  lately  of  the 
value  and  iniportaiiee  of  the  river  Columbia  and  Its  navigation,;  but  I  will 
undertake  to  say  that  (or  all  purposes  of  human  use  the  Ht.  John  is  worth  a 
hundred  times  as  much  as  the  Columbia  is  or  ever  will  be.  In  point  of  mag- 
nitude it  is  one  of  the  most  respectable  rivers  on  tl»e  eastern  side  of  America. 
—(Webster's  Speeclies,  vol.  5,  p.  102.) 

8till  further,  the  New  York  Independent,  for  January,  1870, 
said : 

A  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Webster,  a  legal  gentleman,  and  with  whom  he 
conversed  on  the  sul)Je<!t  several  times,  remarked  to  the  writer  of  this  arti- 
cle: "  It  is  safe  to  assert  that  our  country  owes  It  to  Br.  Whitman  and  his 
associate  missionaries  that  all  the  territory  west  of  tlio  Uocky  mountains 
and  south  as  fur  as  tlie  Columbia  river,  is  not  now  owned  by  England  and 
held  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company." 

Thus,  when  we  renieniber  the  position  of  the  whigs  in  the 
Senate,  Mr,  Choate's  proposition  for  an  efjuivalent  for  Oregon, 
Mr.  Webster's  remarks  about  the  Colund)ia  two  years  later,  and 
what  he  said  t<)  his  Iriend  about  Dr.  Whitman,  we  find  circum- 
stantial evidence  strong  to  believe  Mr.  Webster  wa«  willing  to 
tradeoff  Oregon,  and  that  Dr.  Whitman  helped  largely  to  save  it. 


»■ 


n. 

What  Did  Dr,  Whitman  Do  to  Promote  the 
Immigration  of  1843? 


Says  Dr.  Geiger : 

He  [Dr.  Wljltinan  when  at  Washington]  Immprtlately  sent  back  word  to 
Missouri,  to  those  who  wished  to  ^u,  and  lind  it  published  in  papers  and  In  a 
pamphlet. 

Says  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding: 

On  reaehlng  the  settlements  Dr.  Whitman  found  that  many  of  the  now 
old  Oregonians— Waldo,  Applegate  [a  mistake],  Hamtree,  Keyser,  and  others 
—who  once  made  calculation  to  come  to  Oregon,  had  abandoned  the  Idea, 
because  it  was  reported  from  Wasliington,  that  every  attempt  to  take  wagons 
and  ox  teams  througli  the  Uocky  and  Blue  mountains  to  the  Columbia  had 
failed.  *  *  *  The  Doctor  toid  these  men,  as  ho  met  them,  that  his  only 
object  in  crossing  the  mountains  In  tlie  dead  of  winter,  at  the  risk  of  his 
life,  through  untold  sufferings,  was  to  take  back  an  American  immigration 
that  summer,  through  the  mountains  to  the  t'oluinbla,  witli  their  wagons 
and  teams.  The  route  was  practicable.  *  *  *  This  news  spread  like  wild- 
fire through  Missouri. 

Mr.  P.  B,  Whitman  says: 

Dr.  W^hitman's  trip  east,  in  the  winter  of  1S42-I.{,  was  for  tl»c  double  pur- 
pose of  briiglng  an  immigration  across  the  plains,  also  to  prevent,  if  possi- 
ble, tlie  tn  ding  ofl'  this  northwest  coast  to  the  Hrltish  government. 

Dr.  S.  J.  Parker,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  in  speaking  of 
Dr.  Whitman's  two  visits  to  his  father,  in  1848,  hoth  bel'ore  going 
to  Washington  and  after,  says : 

At  botli  times  the  snliject  of  emigration  was  talked  c)f.  Dr.  Wliitnian  said 
many  In  Illinois  and  Missouri,  etc.,  were  ready  to  go  and  would  go  in  the 
spring,  as  soon  as  the  grass  grew. 

On  the  other  hand,  says  Hon.  E.  Evans,  in  the  Seattle  Intelll- 
gmcer,  of  April  30,  1881  : 

Dr.  Whitman  had  notliing  whatever  to  do  with  organizing  or  promoting 
the  migration  of  18W.  He  performed  valuable  services  wlille  he  travelled 
wltli  It. 

Mrs.  Vietor,  in  the  AHtorian,  makes  similar  statements. 


y 


DID  DR.  M.   WHITMAN  SAVE  ORRGON? 


27 


In  order  to  settle  this  question,  if  possible,  the  writer  sent  letters 
to  all  the  irnini^runts  of  1843,  whose  address  he  could  learn,  in 
order  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  Dr.  Whitman  did  anything  to 
induce  theui  to  come.  In  other  ways  he  has  learned  the  same 
from  a  few  others,  so  that  herewith  is  given  the  reason  which  led 
fourteen  men'or  families  to  come : 


(I.)    HON.  L.  APPLEGATE. 

Ashland,  Oregon,  February  — ,  lUSa. 
Deau  Kir:— Kofotvecl  your  note  oC  Inquiry  In  regard  to  getting  up  the 
emigration  or '-IS.  Tlie  tlr.st  movement  that  I  know  of  In  getting  up  tliat 
emigration  is  as  follows:  There  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kobert  Shortess, 
who  made  iiis  home  wltli  me  in  Missouri,  who  crossed  the  plains  in  '38  or  ';W 
with  the  trappers,  who  wrote  letters  back  to  mc  and  brother  .lesse,  giving  a 
fine  description  of  the  country,  a  man  well  known  to  the  early  settlers  of 
Oregon.  Our  living  in  a  very  sickly  climate  and  the  severity  of  the  winters. 
Induced  us  to  nuvke  an  effort  to  reach  Oregon.  So,  about  tlie  rtrst  of  March, 
184:i,  I  put  a  notice  in  the  Hooneville  Iferalil  (a  paper  pulilished  in  Missouri), 
that  there  would  be  au  etibrt  to  get  up  an  en\igratlon  to  Oregon.  About  the 
same  time  tiiere  was  an  effort  in  the  north  part  of  tlie  State,  and  about  the 
first  of  May  we  met  on  the  border  of  the  State  and  organized  for  Oregon. 
When  we  reached  the  North  IMatle,  or  somewhere  in  the  Black  Hills,  Dr. 
Whitman  and  liis  nephew  overtook  us,  travelling  in  a  small  vehicle,  l^p  to 
this  time  t  never  had  heard  the  name  of  Dr.  Whitman— did  not  know  there 
was  su(!h  a  man  living.  The  Doctor  rendered  us  a  good  dea'  of  service,  being 
a  man  of  energy,  and  we  lielped  him  some,  by  hauling  provisions  that  fed 
him  and  others,  for  nothing.  I  think  every  living  emigrant  of  '4'.i  will  bear 
me  out  in  these  statements.  *  *  «  *  starting  witli  us,  as  nelglibors  and 
from  the  same  section  of  country,  were  us  three  brothers,  Deniel  Waldo, 
Leery,  Naj-lor,  .John  Ford,  Klser,  Panther,  and  families,  and  a  number  of 
otliers  whose  names  I  can  not  recall  to  mind  now. 

Yours  truly. 
(Signed)  lilNDSAY  APPLEGATK. 


y 


«  (a.)    HON.  JESSE  APPi^EGATE, 

Clkar  IjAkv  Modoc  (.'ountv,  Cal.,  February  19th,  '8.*?. 
Dear  Sir. ■~\ouvvtr'..  i cached  me  fo-duy.    1st..— Nothing  Dr.  Whitman  said 
or  wrote  Induced  me  to  come  to  Oregon.    Und.— I  first  saw  Dr.  Whitman  in 
June,  im'i,  on  the  Platte  river.    .'trd.—I  know  of  no  person,  living  or  dead,  he 
induced  to  come  to  Oregon.  Yours, 

(SMgncd)  .lESSE  APPLEGATE. 


/ 


(3.)    MR.  A.   HILL,  of  Gaston,  Washington  County,  Oregon. 

The  Weckli/ JV'^irn  (Portland)  of  May  17, 1883,  has  the  following: 

In  184:i  Mr.  Hill,  then  being  the  head  of  a  young  family,  had  liLs  attention 
drawn  to  the  far  west  by  the  bill  granting  a  donation  land  claim  to  settlers, 
introduced  into  Congress  by  Senator  Ijlnn,  of  Missouri,  but  which  did  not  be- 
comt  a  law  until  IH.')().  At  that  time  Mr.  Hill  lived  In  Hates  county,  Missouri. 
■*  *  *  Later  in  the  year  of  'lUlils  young  blood  was  stirred  by  reading  a 
letter  from  Robert  Shortess  to  .Jesse  Applegate,  descriptive  of  Oregon.  The 
desire  to  come  west  and  possess  himself  of  a  generous  piece  of  land,  upon 


// 


28  DID  DU.   M.   WHITMAN  8AVK  OUE(K>N? 

■which  he  could  build  a  home,  never  left  hlin,  so  that  In  February,  1813,  when 
Dan.  Waldo,  late  of  Marlon  county,  sent  word  inviting  him  to  go  to  Oregon, 
and  olFering  to  furnish  him  a  team,  he  Immediately  bucked  his  horKC  and 
started  to  nee  Waldo.  *«««**** 

Here  foUowK  ii  description  of  an  interview  between  Mr.  Hiil 
and  Applegate  on  tlie  subject. 

The  result  was  that  after  two  months  Mr.  Hill,  Jesse  Applegate,  his  two 
brothers,  Lindsay  and  Charles,  and  Dan.  Waldo,  who  lived  a  few  miles  away, 
were  all  ready  to  start,  and  made  the  Hrst  day's  Journey  on  the  VMi  of  May, 
lHt.1.  •«**»***#** 

Dr.  Whitman,  of  the  Whitman  Mission,  overtook  the  train  on  the  South 
Platte.  Up  to  this  time  Mr.  Hill  had  never  heard  of  Dr.  Whitman,  and  did 
not  know  of  such  n  station  as  the  one  on  the  Walla  Walla  river.  «  *  » 
Mr.  Hill  Is  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  the  agitation  in  Congress  by  Senator 
Linn,  »  *  *  was  the  starting  cause  of  the  enilgration  from  Missouri  in 
1»4.*J,  and  that  Dr.  Whitman  was  not  known  to  those  people  till  he  overtook 
them  on  Platte  river,  though  after  that  the  doctor's  sc-i ,  ices  as  guide  were 
very  valuable. 

(4.)     MR.  MATHENY. 

Rev.  C.  Eells,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  dated  March  11,  1882, 
says: 

Mr.  Matheny,  residing  at  Wawawal  on  Snake  river,  said  to  me  that  his 
company  were  far  out  on  the  plains  before  they  saw,  or  (and  I  think  he  said) 
heard  of  Dr.  Whitman.  At  first,  Mr.  M.'s  part.v  were  evidently  far  in  ad- 
vance, but  subsequently  they  all  combined. 

(5.)    W.  J.  DOUGHERTY,  of  Lake  View,  Pierce  County,  Wash.  Ter. 

Mr.  Dougherty  said  to  tlie  writer,  February  14,  1883,  that  he 
first  knew  of  Dr.  Wliitman  near  Fitzliugli's  null,  at  a  meeting 
held  by  the  emigration. 


(      I 


(6.)    MR.  S.  M    OILMORE.  f 

Rockland,  Wash.  Ter.,  March  7, 188.'i 
Rev.  M.  Eells,  Skokomlsh: 

.SJr— Yours  of  January  lijth  Is  received.  *  *  *  After  I  had  resolved  to 
come  to  Oregon  I  learned  that  Dr.  Wliitman  was  intending  to  return  to  Ore- 
gon—would be  of  great  asslstonce  to  the  emigrants.  As  to  how  many  he  In- 
fluenced, I  know  not,  but  I  am  sure  he  CAUsed  many  to  come  that  otherwise 
would  not  have  come.  If  they  had  not  learned  that  he  wr>uld  be  with  them, 
and  that  he  could  be  of  great  assistance  on  the  Journey.  I  Hrst  saw  Dr.  Whit- 
man at  our  rendezvous  on  the  Missouri  border,  while  we  were  organizing 
preparatory  to  start.  *  ♦**♦**  * 

Yours,  etc., 
(Signed)  S.  M.  QIIiMORE. 

(7.)    HON.  J.  W.  NESMITH. 

Dixie  Station,  Polk  County,  Oheoon,  Jan.  2!,  188.J. 
Rev.  M.  KELIJ5: 
My  near  Hit—   ♦    *    *    In  answer  to  your  first  question,  "  Where  did  you 


DID  DR.   M.   WHITMAN   SAVK  ORKGON? 


29 


first  see  Dr.  Whitman  ?"  I  am  not  able  to  reply  as  deflnitely  as  I  could  wish 
to  do,  but  will  give  yon  the  best  of  my  recollections.  Onr  party  of  Immi- 
grants aHsembled  at  a  point  near  Fltzhugh's  Mill,  a  few  miles  west  of  Inde- 
pendence, Missouri,  on  the  a)th  of  May,  IMS,  for  the  purjiose  of  organizing 
I  win  not  be  certain  whether  It  was  at  that  meeting  or  a  day  or  two  after,  on 
the  line  of  march,  that  I  first  met  the  Doctor.  I  had  never  seen  or  heard  of 
him  before,  consequently  nothing  that  he  said  or  wrote  had  any  influence  in 
inducing  mo  to  come  to  Oregon.  In  fact,  I  had  started  from  Iowa  in  1812,  to 
come  to  Oregon  wltli  Dr.  White's  party  of  that  year,  but  I  arrived  at  Inde- 
pendence seventeen  days  after  Dr.  White's  party  had  left,  and  as  the  Pawnee 
Indians  were  hostile,  I  did  not  dare  venturing  alone  to  overtake  the  party, 
and  remained  at  Kort  Hcott,  110  miles  south  of  Independence,  In  the  then 
Kansas  territory,  until  the  party  of  18(;i  rendezvoused,  as  above  stated. 

I  know  of  no  person  who  was  induced  to  come  to  Oregon  in  consequence 
of  Dr.  Whitman's  representations,  and  I  think  that  the  rest  of  the  immigra- 
tion were  as  ignorant  of  Dr.  Whitman,  ills  speaking  and  writing,  as  I  was.  * 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(.Signed)  .1.  W.  NK.SMITH. 


(8.)     MR.  JOHN  B. 


McCLANE. 

Salem,  February  27, 1883. 


Rev.  M.  Eei.ls: 

iVir.-— In  answer  to  your  llrst  question  :  I  think  he  [Dr.  Whitman]  overtook 
us  on  the  North  Platte.  I  am  not  sure  as  to  that.  *  *  *  i  never  heard  of 
him  until  he  overtook  us  on  the  plains.  *  *  *  There  were  a  number  that 
were  influenced  to  come  by  him,  but  I  could  not  state  their  names  at  this 
time.       ***** 

(Signed)  JOHN  B.  McOLANE. 


(g.)    MR.  J.  O.  BAKER. 

McMlNNVlLLE,  Okegon,  August  12,  1883. 
Rev.  M.  Eei.i.s: 

iVir.-— In  regard  to  Dr.  Whitman,  I  will  say  that  I  did  not  know  that  Dr. 
Whitman  was  In  the  States  until  he  overtook  us.  Where  he  overtook  us  I 
can  not  now  say,  but  It  was  sometime  after  wo  started.  We  had  Captain 
Gantt  for  our  pilot  when  Dr.  Wliltman  overtook  us;  we  then  got  Dr.  Whit- 
man for  our  pilot.  Dr.  Whitman  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  persever- 
ance, and  of  great  service  to  us.  Yours, 

(Signed)  J.  G.  BAKER. 


(10.)    HON.  J.  M.  SHIVELY. 

Astoria,  Oregon,  July  H,  1883. 
Friend  Eells; 

I  first  saw  Dr.  Whitman  on  the  plains  In  181;^.  I  never  heard  of  hln^  or  Ins 
mission  to  Washington  previous  to  this.  Friends  In  St.  Louis  sent  me  a 
package  i)y  him.  In  November,  1SI2, 1  was  the  first  to  get  up  the  excitement 
on  the  <  )regon  (juestion,  and  after  many  meetings,  went  to  Washington  with 
a  petition  to  Congress  then  in  siession.  If  Dr.  Whitman  was  then  in  Wash- 
ington I  did  not  see  nor  hear  of  him. 

I  never  heard  any  one  say  they  ever  knew  Dr.  Whitman  till  they  met  him 
on  the  plains.  Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed^  J.  M.  SHIVELY. 


30 


DID  DR.   M.  WHITMAN  SAVK  OKEGON 


(n.)    MR.  WILLIAM  WALDO. 

Sai.km,  (»KK(iON,  January  21, 18*1. 
Rkv.  M.  Kells: 

Dear  .Vir.— Your  loiter  of  the  l">lh  Inst,  litis  Just  been  received,  and  In  an- 
swer *  *  *  I  have  to  sa.v,  that  Dr.  Whitman  was  In  some  of  the  KaHtern 
Htatcsln  the  winter  of  ISI2  and  ;1,  and  wrote  several  newspaper  articles  In 
relation  to  Oreijon,  and  particularly  In  recard  to  the  health  ol  the  country. 
These  letters  decided  my  fatlier  to  move  to  this  country,  as  he  had  already 
determined  to  leave  Missouri.  *  <  *  I  first  saw  hitii  on  tlie  HIk  Uiue  river. 
*  *  *  1  was  then  about  ten  years  of  age,  l)ul  I  remember  him  very  distinctly, 
for  the  reason  tluit  lie  was  a  very  remarltable  man  in  many  respects.    *    *    * 

Vours  very  truly, 
(HlKUCd)  WM.  WALDO. 


(13.)    MRS.  C.  B.  GARY. 

Lafayette,  Oregon,  January  23, 1883. 
Rev.  M.  Eklij*: 

Your  letter  was  received,  and  In  reply  to  your  questions  I  will  say.  It  was 
a  pamphlet  Dr.  Whitman  wrote  that  induced  me  to  come  to  Oregon.  Met 
him  first  on  the  plains.    *    *    »    * 

Respectfully, 
(Signed)  Mrs.  C.  H.  CAUY. 

(I3.)    MR.  JOHN  ZACHREY. 

In  a  letter  to  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding,  dated  February  7,  1868,  he 
says: 

/tear  We.-— In  answer  to  your  inquiries  I  would  say,  that  my  father  and 
his  family  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  18-13,  from  the  State  of  Texas.  I  was  tlien 
17  years  old.  The  occasion  of  my  father  starting  that  season  for  this  country, 
an  lilHO  sevrral  n/ our  nrif/fibnrn,  wna  n  publication  by  Dr.  Whitman,  or  from 
his  representations  i-oncerning  Oregon,  and  tlie  route  from  tlie  States  to  t>re- 
gon.  In  tlie  pamphlut  the  Doctor  described  Oregon,  liie  soil,  climate  and  its 
desirableness  for  Aineiican  colonies,  and  said  lie  had  crossed  the  Rocliy 
mountains  that  winter,  principally  to  talto  back  that  season  a  train  of  wag- 
ons to  Oregon.  We  had  been  told  that  wagons  could  not  Ije  taken  beyond 
Fort  Hall;  but  in  this  pamphlet  the  Doctor  assured  Ills  countrymen  that 
wagons  could  be  taken  from  Fort  Hall  to  the  Columl)la  river,  and  to  The 
Dalles,  and  from  thence  by  boats  to  the  Willamette;  that  himself  and  mis- 
sion party  had  taken  their  families,  cattle  and  wagons  tlirough  to  ti>e  Colum- 
bia six  years  before.  It  was  this  assurance  of  tlie  missionary  that  induced 
my  father  and  several  of  his  neighbors  to  sell  out  and  start  at  once  for  this 
country.      ********* 

(Signed)  JOHN  ZACHREY. 

—(Spalding's  Congressional  pamphlet,  p.  28.) 


, 


(14.)    HON.  JOHN  HOBSON. 

Astoria,  January  30, 18S.S. 
Rev.  M.  Eells: 

Dear  Sir:—  *  *  *  My  father's  family  came  to  St.  Louis  in  March,  1843, 
from  England,  on  our  way  to  Wisconsin,  but  on  account  of  snow  and  Ice  in 
the  river  we  could  not  proceed,  and  while  detained  there  we  met  the  Doctor 


DID  DR.   M.  WHITMAN  f=lAVH  ORWJON; 


81 


i( 


[Whitman]  iind  sovpral  others,  wlio  wore  tiilkliiK  "f  <'<»»lnK  to  OroKon;  so, 
by  his  dpscrlptlon  of  the  fouiitry,  and  prod'ored  assistance  In  KoltInK  hero 
frt'c  of  rliarKO,  my  father  with  fanilly,  and  Miles  Kyers  and  family,  Messrs. 
Thomas  Smith,  a  Mr.  RU-ord,  and  .1.  M.  Shively,  all  aureed  to  come.  .Ml 
came.  Mr.  Kyers  was  drowned  In  Snake  river,  while  crosslnj;  above  Holse. 
Thomas  Smith  went  to  California  In  IH17.  Mr.  KIccrd  went  to  the  .Sandwich 
Islands  and  never  returned.  .1.  M.  ShlviHy  resides  in  .Xstoria,  when  at  home, 
but  is  n<iw  In  California  for  his  health.  The  I )o<rt<)r  assisted  Kyersand  father 
In  purchasing  was"ns  and  mules  in  St.  I,ouls.  We  went  to  Westport, 
throuRh  the  State  of  Missouri,  to  the  rendezvous,  and  the  rest  went  by  river. 
1  do  not  know  whether  the  Doctor  was  (jolnj;  to  or  on  the  return  from  Wash- 
luKlon,  but  we  did  not  sec  him  any  more  until  we  met  him  at  the  Indian 
mission,  a  few  miles  from  Westport,  In  tho  early  part  of  May,  where  he 
assisted  us  in  getting  more  teams  and  horses. 

Yonro, 
(Signed)  JOHN  HOB.SON. 

P.  S.— All  tlie  Hobsons  that  crossed  lu  '4.3  are  dead,  but  my  youngest  sis- 
ter and  myself.    I  was  eighteen  years  old  when  I  came. 

REMARKS. 

(1.)  It  is  plain,  from  the  evidence,  tluvt  Dr.  Whitman  did  not 
influence  all  the  emigrantti  to  come,  but  that  other  causes  were  at 
worli— sucli  as  Wenatt)r  Linn's  bill,  Mr.  Shortess'  letter,  and  Mr. 
Shively's  work. 

(2.)  It  is  also  plain,  however,  that  he  did  work  to  induce  peo- 
ple to  come,  by  personal  ta'k,  newspaper  articles  and  a  pamphlet, 
which  reached  even  to  Texas. 

(3.)  It  it  also  plain  that  he  induced  some  to  come;  four  of  the 
fourteen  witnesses  heard  from — nearly  one-third — stating  that 
they  came  because  of  his  rej)resontations,  while  two  of  them 
speak  of  .several  others  whom  he  induced  to  come. 

(4. )  The  statements  of  dilferent  perscms  that  they  first  saw  him 
at  ilitFerent  phiccs  may,  perhaps,  be  reconciled  by  the  idea  that 
dillerent  parties  started  at  diflerent  times,  hence,  that  the  earlier 
ones  did  not  see  him  as  soon  as  the  later  ones. 

"  It  Is  forty  years,  to  this  very  year, 

Since  the  ttrst  bold  wagon  train, 
With  man's  deep  vow  and  woman's  tear. 

Struggled  across  the  plain. 
Bravo  Whitman  piloted  the  way, 

.\s  on  four  months  they  pressed, 
They  pass  the  plains  with  summer  day. 

With  autumn  gain  tho  west." 

— [S.  A.  Clarke,  in  WillamcUc  Farmer,  1883. 


Since  writing  the  above  I  have  found  a  letter,  written  in  1849, 


/ 


82 


mi)   1»K.   M.   WHITMAN  HAVK  OHKOON? 


by  Rev.  H.  K.  W.  PcikinH,  of  the  Methodlwt  luiwHion,  to  Miss 
Jane  PrentiwH,  a  winter  of  Mrs.  Wliitiiian,  whieli  hIiowh  strongly 
the  tendoney  of  Dr.  Whitman'H  Ideas,  and  from  wlileli  the  fol- 
lowing extraets  are  given.  Mr.  Perltins  was  stationed  ut  The 
Dalles,  and  left  the  eoiintry  in  1H44.  Mth.  Whitman  spent  the 
winter  of  1842-H  at  tlie  station,  in  the  families  of  Messrs.  Perkins, 
D.  Lee  and  Brewer,  while  Dr.  Wliitnian  was  in  tin*  Kast;  henee, 
Mr.  Perkins  had  a  good  oi)}M)rtunity,  through  Mrs.  Whitman,  of 
learning  Dr.  Whitman's  ideas,  and  all  Mr.  Perkin's  o))iuions 
were  formed  al)out  tlie  .same  time,  as  he  had  no  personal  inter- 
course with  them  after  1K44,  although  the  letter  was  not  written 
for  Ave  years  afterwards.  It  was  written  in  reply  to  some  ques- 
tions of  Miss  Prentiss,  after  the  death  ol  lier  sister  : 

He  [Dr.  Wliitnmui  looked  upon  tlu'in  [the  Iiulliins)  usdooiurd,  nt  no  dis- 
tant day,  to  give  place  to  u  settlement  of  enterprlslntt  Americans.  With  iiii 
eye  to  this,  ho  luld  his  plans  and  acted.  His  American  feellnKs,  even  while 
engaged  In  his  missionary  tolls,  were  *  *  *  sulfered  to  predominate.  ♦  * 
*  *  He  wanted  to  see  the  country  settled.  *  *  *  Where  were  scattered 
a  few  Indian  huts  he  wanted  to  see  thrllty  farm  houses.  Where  stalked 
abroad  a  few  broken-dcwn  Indian  horses,  cropplnj;  the  rich  grasses  of  the 
surrounding  plain,  he  wanted  to  see  grazing  the  cow,  the  ox  and  the  sheep 
of  a  happy  Yankee  community.  With  his  eye  bent  on  this,  lie  was  willing, 
meantime,  to  do  what  he  could  *  *  *  for  the  poor,  weak,  feeble,  doomed 
Oregon  lauH. 


fi 


APPENDIX. 


()f 


7 


. 


Tlie  following  h'ttei-H,  roeelved  sinee  the  foregoing  wuh  went  to 
press,  will  explain  some  thingB  heretofore  hin-etl  at.  The  first 
was  written  by  Dr.  Whitman  at  the  Shawnee  miHsion,  near 
WeHtport,  May  28,  1843,  to  Mr.  J.  G.  Prentiss,  his  brother-in-law. 
He  says ; 

You  will  be  Hurprised  to  learn  that  I  am  hero  yet.  I  have  been,  an  it  were, 
waiting  for  three  weeks.  When  I  got  to  St.  LouIh  I  found  1  had  time  and  ho 
I  went  to  tiulncy,  [111.]  and  saw  HiKter  Jane,  but  Kdward  was  not  there.  *  • 
*  *  I  Hhall  Htart  to-morrow  or  next  day.  8ome  of  the  cmlgrantH  have 
been  gone  a  week  and  others  are  Just  going.  The  number  of  men  will  be 
over  two  hundred,  besides  women  and  children.  This  tells  for  the  occnpa- 
tlon  of  Oregon.  A  great  many  cattle  are  going,  but  no  sheep,  from  a  mistake 
of  what  I  said  when  passing.  Next  year  will  tell  for  sheep.  «  *  •  ♦  You 
will  bo  best  Judge  what  can  he  done,  and  how  far  you  can  exert  yourself  In 
these  matters,  and  whether  the  secret  service  fund  can  be  obtained.  As  now 
decided  In  my  mind,  this  Oregon  will  be  occupied  by  American  citizens. 
Those  who  go  only  open  the  way  for  more  another  year.  Wagons  will  go  all 
the  way,  I  have  no  doubt,  this  yeor.  *  •  *  Sheep  and  cattle,  but  especially 
Bheep,  ore  Indlspenslble  for  Oregon.  *****  i  mean  to  Impress  on  the 
Secretary  of  War  that  sheep  are  more  Important  to  Oregon  Interests  than 
soldiers.  We  want  to  get  sheep  and  stock  from  Government  for  Indians, 
Instead  of  money  for  their  lands.  I  have  written  him  on  the  nuiin  Interests 
of  the  Indian  country,  but  I  mean  still  to  write  him  a  private  letter  touching 
some  particular  interests.  I  sliali  not  be  at  all  surprised  to  see  some.  If  not 
all,  of  you  on  our  side  of  the  mountains.    Jackson  talked  favorably. 

(Signed)  MAU(;US  WHITMAN. 

This  letter  shows  that  Dr.  Whitman  first  came  to  St.  Louis, 
then  went  baek  to  Illinois  and  there  waited  some  time  for  the 
emigrants ;  that  the  emigrants  started  along  at  different  times  ; 
he  was  working  for  his  friends  to  emigrate  to  Oregon ;  that  he 
had  said  something  about  emigrants  going  there  when  he  first 
passed  through,  as  he  was  misunderstood  about  sheep ;  and  that 
he  was  working  with  Government,  especially  the  Secretary  of 
War,  about  Oregon.  More  of  the  letter  is  taken  up  with  the  sub- 
ject of  sheep. 


The  other  letter  is  written  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Prentits,  as  follows : 


.'ssMMMCiitf^V'l 


84 


APPENDIX. 


Almond,  (Nkw  York],  November  IH,  1883. 
IlKV.  M.  Kki.jm: 

«*••**  If  I  could  HOC  and  talk  to  yuii  of  whnt  the  Doctor  Kiild  to 
mo  on  the  HUbJoct  ol  liU  trip,  and  liownnxlouH  be  wuh  to  contlniiu  IiIn  Jour- 
ney and  got  uU  to  ko  with  him  ho  came  In  contact  with  In  tblH  town,  and 
elRht  mllcH  from  hero  at  WeHt  Almond,  whore  I  then  lived,  and  on  IiIh  way  to 
Culm,  where  my  father  and  mother  lived  ai  that  time,  It  would  explain  much 
tliat  be  wrote  mo  about.  HU  project  was,  ho  far  an  the  IndlauH  were  con- 
cerned, to  Induce  the  (lovernment  to  pay  them  otT  for  their  land  In  Hheep, 
and  leave  them  to  l>e  a  herding  people.  Hence  he  wrote  In  hlH  letter  to  me 
abo\it  a  Hocrot  fund  that  wan  controlled  by  the  <  'ahlnet,  etc.,  and  in  hlN  urgent 
MollcltatlonH  was  ho  anxlouti  to  have  Mr,  .lackNon,  a  brother-in-law,  and  my- 
Heirtogo.  He  would  have  It,  my  aged  parentH,  .fudge  PrentlHH  and  wife, 
might  endure  the  Journey,  and  hlH  HollcltatlonH  outHldc  of  the  family  were 
JUHtas  urgent,  portraying  the  beautlenof  that  country  to  all  that  would  listen 
to  hlH  Htory.       •♦•«♦♦♦* 

(BIgnod)  J.  U.  PUENTIWB. 


